‘Be your own boss’
New salon suite franchise in Whitehall gives hair stylists and other lifestyle professionals freedom to grow business
Hair stylists, makeup artists and other lifestyle professionals have a new venue to grow their businesses in the Lehigh Valley.
Phenix Salon Suites, a California-based salon suite rental concept, opened in late June at 2180 MacArthur Rd., next to Redner’s Warehouse Market in the Whitehall Square shopping center.
The venue, the company’s first location in the area, features 37 luxury salon suites for barbers, stylists, cosmetologists, nail technicians, massage therapists and other professionals to run their own business.
Each suite is private, with its own door, sink or shampoo bowl, temperature controls and more. Owners are able to use their own products, listen to their own music, set their own hours and decorate in their own style.
About 75% of the suites have been filled, with a handful of 120-square-foot spaces still available, franchisee Antonella DeFalco said.
“We call it our Phenix family, but we really believe it and live it,” DeFalco said. “We guide our tenants every step of the way, whether it’s helping them with their LLC, helping them with social media, whatever they need.”
DeFalco is partnering with her husband, Paul DeFalco, and brother and sister-in-law, Fred and Karen Ferraina, to run the Whitehall location.
The DeFalcos operate four other Phenix locations in the Philadelphia metro area, with their first opening in Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, in 2016.
“We have a lot of people who are just starting out, but we also have some people who have been salon owners for a while and are simply looking to eliminate overhead — utilities and so forth,” Paul said. “We know everyone by name in all of our locations.”
Phenix Salon Suites, founded in 2007 by beauty expert and celebrity hair stylist Gina Rivera, gives professionals the freedom to grow their business while keeping 100% of their profits.
The concept is particularly helpful for up-and-coming beauty professionals, especially those who have their own client base and wish to take their career to the next level, Paul said.
Some of the hair care professionals operating in Whitehall include: Justin Burke, owner of Burke’s Barbershop, who hung record albums on a wall; Lisa Huber, owner of Salon Cheveux, who brought in a mini fridge and couch; Sherone Bryan-Ryer, owner of The Loc Spa Hair Studio by Beauty From Ashes, who implemented vibrant pops of purple via paint and wallpaper; and Ingrid M. Gomez and Susan Wedderburn, co-owners of Balance Hair Studio & Salon, who installed wall shelving and vertical mirrors.
Antonella and Fred, both Lehigh Valley natives, are excited to open their first Phenix location in the area where they grew up. The Ferrainas, who reside in Nazareth, are serving as the Whitehall location’s local representatives.
Phenix Salon Suites, which encourages professionals to “be your own boss,” began franchising in 2012 and has grown to more than 300 salons in 33 states. Locations feature shared restrooms, laundry rooms, break rooms and waiting areas. To rent a suite, call 484-430-1820 or visit phenixbeauty.com.
More in Lehigh County
Last week, I reported on a new dining and nightlife venue, Tipsy’s Bar & Lounge, coming this fall to the former Bull & Bear Restaurant on Allentown’s East Side.
Now, I bring you news of another business coming soon to Allentown’s East Side: La Bicicleta Arepa Bar, which debuted in September 2019 at 12 S. Eighth St. in downtown Allentown, is planning to open a second location in the fall at 708 Union Blvd., co-founder Humberto Canelon said.
The building, which is set to undergo renovations, previously housed Luna’s Bakery & Cafe.
“We’re hoping for October,” Canelon said in regard to the second eatery’s target opening date.
La Bicicleta’s menu focuses on grilled arepas (starting at $8.25) — traditional Venezuelan cornmeal patties — that are cut open and stuffed with various ingredients.
Customers have their choice of seven different proteins, including popular picks of avocado chicken, shredded beef and chorizo. They then choose other fillings such as black beans, gouda cheese and sweet plantains; and a sauce such as cilantro, garlic or picante. Other menu highlights include empanadas and tequenos (fried breaded cheese). Info: facebook.com/ LabicicletaAllentown.
From savory eats to sweet treats, Drizzle Ice Cream, which opened in February 2019 at 47 W. Penn Ave. in Alburtis, is planning to open a second location in mid-July at 5040 Route 873 in the Schnecksville section of North Whitehall Township, owner Steve Zola said.
The new shop, with seating for more than a dozen customers, will occupy a renovated space that previously housed a dry cleaner in the same shopping center as Weis Markets.
Customers will enjoy 14-18 flavors of Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream, including popular picks such as Grilled Stickies and Peachy Paterno, along with 26 flavors of ice cream from Kreider Farms in Penn Township, Lancaster County.
Other menu highlights include soft-serve ice cream, Italian ice, milkshakes, sundaes, avalanches (ice cream mixed with toppings), vegan ice cream and ice cream cakes. Online ordering, with pickup and delivery options, is available at http://my-site-drizzle-icecream.square.site.
Beer buffs have a couple of new spots to frequent in Lower Macungie Township:
First, Shangy’s, the specialty beer wholesaler and retailer with around 4,200 varieties, on Wednesday opened its second location at 6480 Alburtis Road (former O2 OxyFit gym).
The new location, at the intersection of Alburtis Road
and Route 100 (next to McDonald’s), is about 5 miles west of the business’ Emmaus store at 40 E. Main St.
The self-described “beer authority,” owned by Nima Hadian, features an expansive selection of beers, including IPAs, lagers and stouts, available in single bottles, packs and cases.
The stores feature popular domestics such as Budweiser and Yuengling; imports like Dos Equis and Heineken; and selections from local breweries such as Fegley’s Brew Works and Separatist Beer Project.
As is the case in Emmaus, the Lower Macungie location has a create-your-own six-pack area; a growler/crowler bar, with more than 20 draft beers to-go; and an alcoholic slushee parlor, featuring around 30 flavors of spiked slushees. The new outpost also features a two-lane drive-thru. Info: facebook.com/shangysthebeerauthority.
Second, after operating out of a large tent for the past six months, Rising River Brewing at 1955 Willow Lane in Lower Macungie this weekend is opening its 80-seat, indoor tasting room in a renovated, 120-year-old barn that includes a new, 3,200-square-foot deck.
The brewery, co-owned by Ron W. Beitler and Jason Mulligan, will continue to welcome guests to its outdoor set-up, which features swings, firepits, picnic tables and 100 Adirondack chairs, in a tree-filled setting along the Little Lehigh Creek.
The barn, on the site of the former Willows Restaurant property, features a 1,700-squarefoot taproom that Rising River shares with Three Little Birds Distilling, a distillery operated by Greg Smith, owner of Hop Hill Brewing Company in Lower Saucon Township.
Customers can expect 10 draft selections — eight beers, a Rising River hard seltzer and a hard cider from Upper Mount Bethel Township’s Hardball Cider. Info: facebook.com/RisingRiverBrewing.
Northampton County news
Switching gears from beer to baked goods, Toasted and Roasted, a micro coffee roaster and cafe, opened Tuesday at 92 E. Broad St. in downtown Bethlehem.
The space previously housed Back Door Bakeshop, a popular take-out cafe and bakeshop that closed in March after nine years of business.
Toasted and Roasted is operated by husband and wife Mike Khorosh and Ali Dickison, who founded the company six years ago in Los Angeles. Dickison is originally from East Stroudsburg and Khorosh is originally from Rockland County, New York.
“When our lease ran out last year, we decided not to renew, just because of the pandemic and the fact that we wanted to be closer to family back home,” Khorosh said.
Beans are sourced from responsible importers who have direct relationships with small farmers growing specialty coffee around the world.
Brewing methods include pour-over and French press, and the couple also installed a new espresso machine for specialty drinks such as cappuccino and lattes. Drip coffee (hot or iced) starts at $3 for a 12-ounce cup.
Other menu highlights include house-made lemonade, coldbrew coffee, hot or iced tea and baked goods — including bagels, croissants, muffins and strudels — from Rockland Bakery, which operates five baking facilities in New York and New Jersey.
Toasted and Roasted also plans to source baked goods from Back Door Bakeshop, which transitioned back to its origins as a wholesale business.Info: 610-625-0987; toastedandroasted.com.
Another tasty venture is brewing in Easton: Husband and wife Juan and Melanie Martinez, who operate five Don Juan Mex Grill locations throughout the Lehigh Valley, are planning to open an American eatery, Miss Jackson’s Kitchen, in September at 201 McCartney St. on College Hill.
The fast-casual restaurant, inspired by the home-style cooking of Juan’s Aunt Jacquelina, will debut a few months before a previously announced Martinez-led venture, Melly Mel’s Chicken, is expected to open on Chestnut Street in Emmaus.
Miss Jackson’s, with seating for around 140 customers, will operate on the ground floor of Lafayette College’s McCartney Residences. It will fill the space left vacant by The Trolley Stop, a full-service diner that recently closed after a year of business.
Miss Jackson’s will serve a variety of classic and modern American cuisine, Juan said, including breakfast skillets, omelets, pancakes and sandwiches.
The eatery, with dining tables and upholstered couches, will serve breakfast and lunch, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. When Lafayette is in session, the eatery will stay open until 8 p.m., Juan said.
Lastly, fans of Long John Silver’s North Pacific cod, shrimp and other seafood favorites no longer have an eatery to frequent in the Lehigh Valley.
The chain’s last Lehigh Valley location permanently closed in May at 2571 Easton Ave. in Bethlehem.
It’s unclear what led to the closure, and a company spokesperson did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The building that it had shared with another quick-service chain, KFC, has been renovated and is now home to just KFC.
Other recent closures of local Long John Silver’s restaurants occurred in 2019 at 2185 W.
Union Blvd. in Bethlehem and 2409 Nazareth Road in Palmer Township and 2021 at 7720 Main St. in Upper Macungie Township.
Twenty eight Long John Silver’s restaurants continue to operate in Pennsylvania, including regional locations in Hamburg, Berks County and Lansdale, Montgomery County.