Carl’s Corner expanding
Just south of Abode, Carl’s Corner, a popular cheesesteak and sub spot that’s operated for nearly three decades at 2 W. Elizabeth Ave. in Bethlehem, plans to open a second location in June at 848 Nazareth Pike in Lower Nazareth Township, co-owner Cindy Weintraub said.
The new strip mall eatery, with seating for about 20 customers, will offer Carl’s full menu, which includes steak sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, chicken wings, wraps and more.
The Weintraubs took control of Carl’s, a longtime favorite restaurant among their family, in November 2018, after learning that the business’ original owners, Carl and Betsy Souders, were looking to retire.
The impetus for the business’ expansion is the Weintraubs’ desire to establish a training program for individuals with intellectual disabilities who are interested in learning aspects of the restaurant industry.
The couple’s son, David, has autism and is a part-time employee at Carl’s in Bethlehem.
Performing restaurant duties is the “highlight of David’s day,” and the couple wishes to bring that happiness and fulfillment to others with intellectual disabilities as employment opportunities can often be limited once they age out of the school system, Cindy said.
“At the new location, we’re looking to train people with special needs so that they have the skills to work independently at a restaurant — whether it’s cooking, cleaning dishes, taking orders, whatever the case may be,” Cindy said. “… Then, we’d reach out to some local restaurant owners who are hiring in order to find a good fit for both parties.” Info: 610-691-1541. salads and more, is expected to open in the fall following renovations at 1002-1004 Chestnut St., according to co-owner Juan Martinez.
The Emmaus building previously housed a Pizza Hut restaurant, which closed last July.
“I love anything with chicken,” said Martinez, who will operate Melly Mel’s with his wife and the restaurant’s namesake, Melanie.
The Martinezes are no strangers to the restaurant industry. The couple opened their first fast-casual eatery, Don Juan Mex Grill, in Easton in 2011 and expanded the brand over the past decade to include a total of five Lehigh Valley restaurants.
“Eventually, we want to do the same strategy that we did with Don Juan with this concept, growing it to include more locations,” Juan said.
Melly’s Mel’s will offer primarily chicken dishes with signature sauces, as well as a handful of other menu items that will include fries and homemade desserts like Key lime pie and milkshakes.
Second, the Lehigh Valley’s newest Wawa convenience store and gas station opened Thursday at 201 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. in Emmaus.
The Delaware County-based company has more than 210 stores in Florida and 650 stores throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, including more than a dozen locations throughout the Lehigh Valley area.
Another Wawa location is set to open this spring at 320 Route 313 in Perkasie, according to the chain’s website, and other area locations are under development at Route 309 and Passer Road in Upper Saucon Township, and South Fourth and Susquehanna streets in Allentown.
Johnny’s ArtsWalk Diner, a casual concept from the husband-and-wife team behind Johnny’s Bagels & Deli, and 1838, an Allentown-themed beer and wine bar from the operators of two existing market tenants, are set to open within the next couple of months at the food and beverage hall at 27 N. Seventh St., on the ArtsWalk.
“We think the market really needs something like this,” said Rick Pongracz, co-owner of 1838.
Pongracz and a silent business partner already operate the market’s Batch Microcreamery, offering super premium ice cream that is hand-crafted on-site, along with milkshakes and other cool treats.
The duo has teamed up with Samantha Younes, operator of Middle Eastern stand Zahra, to open 1838, which will offer domestic and international beer and wine, including many local varieties, while paying homage to Allentown’s history and recent revitalization through framed photographs, a timeline mural and memorabilia.
The bar, named after the year that Allentown officially adopted its name, is expected to open by June 1 in the rear space that previously housed Boardroom Spirits.
It will offer around two dozen beers — six on draft and the rest in cans and bottles — along with at least 15 wines, available by the glass, bottle or flight.
“This will also be good for [downtown Allentown] residents to have beer and wine to-go,” said Younes, who also operates the longstanding Aladdin restaurant on Allentown’s East Side with her family.
Since the space won’t feature a kitchen, the trio plans to partner with other market vendors to offer a “bar bites” menu.
At Johnny’s ArtsWalk Diner, occupying the former Licensed 2 Grill @ The Market space, owners John and Sarah Zohir plan to offer an enhanced menu of what they already offer at their business’ five locations, including one a block away at Sixth and Linden streets.
“We’re going to be taking our bagels and some of our other main menu items, and we’re going to add some more burgers, cheesesteaks and other items that kind of cater to the taste of people who will be going to games,” Sarah said.
Johnny’s ArtsWalk Diner, expected to open the week of May 10, will offer Johnny’s familiar favorites, including wraps and salads, but it’s also going to serve up new dishes such as an “Ahoy Matey” beer-battered fish sandwich, a “Mother Clucker” fried chicken tender sandwich and a New York-style chopped cheese sandwich, featuring ground hamburger meat mixed with a variety of cheeses, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Info: downtownallentownmarket.com.
Some more public market progress: Five additional vendors have signed on as tenants of the forthcoming Riverport Public Market.
The businesses will set up shop in the 24,000-square-foot site that previously housed Starters Riverport restaurant at 17 W. Second St. in south Bethlehem, the market and principals of Ashley Development Corporation announced in a news release. The market is tentatively scheduled to open in spring 2022.
Newly announced tenants include: Zahra, a Middle Eastern concept, featuring chicken and steak shawarma, babaganoush, falafel and more, that the Younes family first launched in 2019 at the Downtown Allentown Market; Buratti’s, an Italian-Mexican concept, featuring tacos, appetizers, sandwiches, pastas and more, from chef Dakota Phillips; Rawberry, a business offering a plant-based menu of all-natural smoothies, juices, acai bowls and salads, from owner Elizabeth Hoque; Assembly ,a modern Asian kitchen offering pan-Asian cuisine, including Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese specialties, from owner Lobynn Cha, operator of Little Miss Korea at the Downtown Allentown Market and Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market; and Domaci Market, a “modern day general store” featuring home decor, cleaning products, personal care items and more from owners Derrick and Warren Clark, operators of Domaci Market, Domaci Design Studio and Plants + Vintage by Steel City Plant Co. and Domaci Flea on Main Street in Bethlehem.
They will join an existing lineup that includes: Batch Microcreamery; Jealous Star Brewing Co.; Lehigh Township-based Soaked Winery; and TYT Lite, a fast-casual Mexican concept from Ramiro Bravo, owner of Tacos Y Tequila in Allentown and Palmer Township.
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.