New life for home center
Piscitello’s, a 65-year-old Lehigh Valley business, getting new ownership
When Piscitello’s Home Center closed its doors two years ago, many wondered about the fate of the beloved home improvement store.
Thanks to Dave and Lisa Culver, new ownership is breathing new life into the 65-year-old business at 2300 Wood Ave. in Wilson.
“I had a construction company in Palmer Township for 37 years and was a customer of Piscitello’s,” said Dave Culver. “It’s a family business started by the Piscitello family.”
“We offer home improvement items, a lumberyard, and a fully stocked hardware store with an in-house kitchen and bath design center,” Culver added.
Culver mentioned that the Piscitello family decided to sell the four-acre property that includes a 41,000-square-foot building two years ago.
“We decided to rebrand and revitalize it,” Culver explained. “We’ve added a loading area and increased our workforce. We began with eight employees and now have 18.”
Piscitello’s Home Center was established in 1958, and the current location was constructed in 1970, opening in 1971.
However, Culver emphasized that it’s more than just a hardware store. He’s renting space to “like-minded businesses,” including a pool center, locksmith, lumberyard and garage center.
“It’s like a one-stop shop for home improvement,” he said with a chuckle.
Culver noted that it took a year to renovate the store and expand its presence on social media, something the original owners hadn’t done.
Piscitello’s Home Center is marking its 65th anniversary in business with a three-day celebration from Friday to Sunday. Culver said the celebration is unique because each day is dedicated to different groups.
Friday is devoted to construction vendors, who will answer questions about construction and home improvement for their colleagues.
Saturday is “Community Day.” Culver explained that local nonprofits in the Lehigh Valley will showcase their work. Some of these nonprofits include Miracle League, Kiwanis, and Safe Harbor. Wilson Borough Police and Wilson firefighters will also be there. CAT Country 96.8 will broadcast from 10 a.m. to noon.
Oct. 8 is what Culver calls “Family Day,” featuring activities such as bounce houses, a football toss and a DJ for families to enjoy.
All three days will offer free food and drinks from local vendors.
Culver hopes that Easton and the rest of the Lehigh Valley will visit the reinvigorated, beloved hardware store.
“Piscitello’s Home Center has been a community staple since 1958. We are celebrating our accomplishments,” he said.
Zekraft moving to Promenade Shops
Zekfraft, an eatery offering “quick, healthful, locally sourced meals,” is leaving its Simon Silk Mill location in Easton and moving to the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley.
The last day for the Easton location will be Sunday and the expected opening at the Promenade Shops inside the Capital Blue building is Monday, Oct. 9, according to the business’ Facebook page.
“We can’t wait to welcome you to our new home at the Promenade and continue serving you with the same passion and dedication you’ve come to know us for,” the Facebook post said.
The business still has cafes in Bethlehem, its original location, and Allentown, and will maintain a presence at the Easton Farmers Market on Saturdays. They also plan to restart their home meal delivery later next month.
Filmmaker Zeke Zelker and his wife, Elaine Zelker, are the owners.
St. Luke’s opening new hospital
St. Luke’s University Health Network is set to open its orthopedic hospital this winter.
When it opens, St. Luke’s Orthopedic Hospital will be two stories tall and 52,000 square feet. Built into St. Luke’s West End Medical Center, 501 Cetronia Road in South Whitehall Township, the hospital will offer same-day surgeries of the knee, hip, spine, hand and shoulder, as well as treat a myriad of sports-related fractures and other injuries.
The first floor of the $44 million hospital will house eight operating rooms and 24 rooms for care before and after surgery, along with support, auxiliary space and waiting rooms.
The second floor will contain patient overnight rooms, staff and supplies space and closed-off rooms for future use.
“This hospital will provide the ideal orthopedic patient experience in terms of quality, comfort and convenience,” Dr. Douglas Lundy, St. Luke’s chair of orthopedics, said in a statement.
According to St. Luke’s, one piece of technology the hospital will take advantage of is the VELYS robot-assisted orthopedic surgery system, which helps surgeons with information gathering and decision-making during knee surgery. Other advanced technology will be used to maximize safety, accuracy and quality operative outcomes.
“We are building the hospital in a way that will enable it to provide the very latest and best in orthopedic technology and care for years to come,” Lundy said.
St. Luke’s orthopedic specialists complete about 15,000 musculoskeletal surgeries each year and the network predicts a growing demand and need. The network estimates that orthopedic surgeons will perform nearly 3,000 elective operations in this hospital during 2024.
According to the network, about 80 nurses, technicians, therapists and other staff are being added to work at the hospital.