Welcome back to Wassergass, Bergy’s
Former general store, social hub finds new life under new name
What’s old is new again in the Wassergass section of Lower Saucon Township. A.L. Bergstresser & Son ,a former general store and social hub that operated for more than a century at 3640 Lower Saucon Road, on Oct. 7 found new life as Bergy’s General Store.
The rural business is half deli — offering freshly prepared salads, sandwiches, potpies and more — and half general store — offering canned goods, paper products, toiletries and more.
“I really pride my- self on selling great sandwiches, but I’m also here for the convenience factor for the locals,” owner Kim Safi said. “People out here shouldn’t have to drive miles into town just to get basics like milk, bread and eggs.”
Safi, of Salisbury Township, was a previous co-owner of DeLio’s Deli & Grille on Airport Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, for the last few years. Before that, she co-ran the former Broad Street Deli & Grille, which was originally on West Broad Street in Bethlehem before it moved to Quebec Street in east Allentown, for more than a decade.
The 18-seat Bergy’s offers egg and cheese sandwiches, most under $4, available with your choice of bagel or bread, and meats such as bacon, corned beef or pork roll, along with subs and traditional sandwiches, such as turkey, Italian and egg, chicken and tuna salads, most around $6.
You also can buy sides such as homemade macaroni salad, red beet eggs, coleslaw and chocolate pudding, along with meats and cheeses by the pound.
“We’re also doing a McBergy, which is a meat, egg and cheese sandwich on French toast with syrup and powdered sugar,” Safi said.
A.L. Bergstresser & Son, also known as Bergy’s Mall and
Bergy’s Deli in its later years, was founded in 1903 when Alfred L. Bergstresser bought the building from Jacob Wasser.
The business was owned by the Bergstresser family until 2003, when a handful of other operators began running other iterations until 2015.
In keeping with family tradition, 77year-old Bill “Bergy” Bergstresser, Alfred Bergstresser’s grandson, still owns the three-story building and lives in the home connected to the store with his wife, Donna.
Visitors to the landmark can once again find a hodgepodge of items, including candy, condiments, cleaning supplies, cereal, fruit and vegetables, trash bags, wrapping paper, frozen Matey’s pizzas and Uncle Paul’s pierogies, and fashion accessories such as jewelry, hats and purses. Cigarettes, lottery tickets and propane are coming soon.
Bergy’s, which showcases historic local photos and memorabilia, is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Hours may change in November, Safi said. The business accepts cash only, but there is an ATM on site. Info: 610-570-8008. into 12 squares, include a sweet chili variety with grilled or crispy chicken. Info: 610-4380051.
About eight miles northwest of Elena’s, Fuze Nutrition, offering meal replacement shakes, energy drinks, smoothie bowls and more, opened Sept. 19 at 848 Nazareth Pike in Lower Nazareth Township.
Offerings are made with ingredients from Herbalife Nutrition, a global nutrition company that started in 1980.
More than 65 flavors of shakes, each containing 21 vitamins and minerals, 24 grams of protein and less than 250 calories, include popular varieties such as blueberry muffin, French toast, espresso brownie, cookie dough, lemon berry and orange creamsicle. Any $7 shake can be made with hot water and served warm.
The shop, with more than a dozen seats, also offers aloe vera shots, coffee and lattes and post-workout shakes, which contain 30 grams of protein. Info: fuzenutrition.com.
Staying on the topic of healthful options, the Lehigh Valley-area’s second Frutta
Bowls is coming soon to the former Greenmouth Juice Bar and Cafe space on the revitalized ArtsWalk in downtown Allentown.
The New Jersey chain, specializing in exotic fruit bowls and smoothies, is scheduled to open in mid-December on the ground floor of the Four City Center annex building at 21 N. Seventh St., according to a news release from City Center Investment Corp., the downtown developer that owns the building.
The franchised eatery, owned and operated by John and Samantha Hamati-Sayegh, will supplement the area’s first Frutta Bowls location, a separately owned franchise that opened in 2018 at 241 W. Broad St. in Quakertown.
The 3-year-old chain, with more than 50 locations in 16 states, provides “healthy alternatives to traditional fast food,”
including bowls based with acai, pitaya, kale or oatmeal, as well as sweet or savory toast, smoothies and organic coffee. Catering will be available. Info: fruttabowls.com.
Odds and ends
For people who appreciate one-of-a-kind treasures, Madona Antiques Gallery, specializing in 18th and 19th century English, French and American furniture, is expected to open in about a month, following renovations of the former Young’s Music Store , at 283 Fifth St. in Whitehall Township, according to Madona Issa, who’s operating the business with her husband, Ghaith Assaf.
Issa and Assaf established Madona Antiques Gallery in 2012 as an online business, selling items globally on ecommerce platforms such as eBay and Etsy.
Over the last few years, business has boomed, leading the couple to search for a brick-andmortar location to expand the operation.
Assaf, who acquires items at auctions and estate sales, polishes and reupholsters furniture before selling it. He also plans to do chair caning and other furniture repair at the store. Info: 440-665-7760.
Another business that is expanding is Gentlemen’s Barbershop.
The barbershop, established in 2012 in downtown Easton, on Oct. 19 opened a second location at the revitalized Simon Silk Mill along North 13th Street in the city’s West Ward.
The new location, next to County Seat Spirits, features six barber stations, with custom cabinetry and refurbished chairs from the 1920s and ‘30s.
Owner Ronald Corales and a team of barbers offer a variety of services, including classic and modern haircuts and hot towel shaves. Info: 610-253-1101.
One final opening: Bath & Body Works, offering hand soaps, fragrance mists and body lotions, creams and washes, on Saturday joined The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley’s retail lineup, according to a news release.
The Upper Saucon Township shop, next to Pandora, is the chain’s seventh Lehigh Valley location.
Closing notes
I’ll finish with a few businesses that have either closed or are about to close:
First, The Coffee Shop Company on Oct. 13 closed after about seven months at 650 Main St. in Hellertown.
Owner Rogelio Castillo said he had to take a step back to restructure the business to fit his vision better. He plans to open an outpost at Bethlehem Township’s FreeFall Trampoline Park in mid-December as well as other area venues in the near future.
Second, Joey G’s Italian Kitchen closed a couple of weeks ago at 1053 Grape St. in Whitehall Township.
“We’re in search of a new location,” owner Joe Grisafi said of the nearly 4-year-old restaurant. “Stay tuned in spring 2020.”
People with Joey G’s gift cards can redeem them at Grisafi’s other business, Corked Bar, Grill & Nightclub , in downtown Bethlehem.
Lastly, electronics retailer Best Buy will soon follow office supplies chain Staples in closing its Phillipsburg area location at the Greenwich Center strip mall on New Brunswick Avenue in Greenwich Township.
Signs posted in the store’s window indicate the location will close Nov. 2.
Retail Watch, appearing every weekend, keeps track of retail and restaurant news in the Lehigh Valley. Contact Ryan Kneller at 610-820-6597 or retailwatch@mcall.com.