European flair
A new shopping destination coming to Easton
Think of it as a bit of Paris on South Third Street of Easton.
A new shopping destination, modeled after European street markets, is coming to 20 S. Third St. and will bring together a curated collection of independently owned, creative-based, small businesses.
It’s from familiar names in the Lehigh Valley: Warren and Derrick Clark, co-founders of Domaci, a home furnishings retailer. Their latest venture, which will be called Belleville Market, will transform and build on what is now the Easton Antique Emporium.
Belleville Market will also become the new permanent landing space for the Domaci storefront, which had been on Main Street in Bethlehem, as well as a hub that will cater to other creators, curators and collectors.
“We are looking at this as one-stop shopping, with not just vintage and antique dealers but also for finding something new,” said Derrick Clark.
A look at some of the merchants already on board for the market:
Cottage and Bloom, offering home decor and personal items inspired by the garden and all things vintage, farmhouse, and industrial design.
Steel City Plant Co., a one-stop urban plant shop specializing in pet-friendly offerings and unique plant accessories.
Seasons Olive Oil & Vinegar Taproom, a family-owned company that produces and imports the freshest extra virgin olive oil and vinegar.
Rascal Salvage Vintage ,aNew Jersey-based vintage shop featuring a hand-picked collection of nostalgic collectibles.
Building on many of the existing relationships with merchants in the Easton Antique Emporium, Belleville Market will also bring in new entrepreneurs and serve as a kind of business incubator. Derrick Clark said new or online businesses will have the chance to “pop-up” in the market, with short-term lease opportunities ranging from a weekend to three months.
Belleville Market will also offer a space for workshops, small-scale events, and live music and entertainment.
Derrick Clark said the emporium will remain open through the transition. The Clarks will take over operations on May 1 and begin to prepare the space with the hopes of having Belleville Market open by summer.
Info: facebook.com/ bellevillemarket
More news from Easton
Off Center Escape Rooms will open this summer at 323 Pine St., Suite B002. It’s the latest escape room to open in the Lehigh Valley.
At the helm of this business are local professional entertainers Ray and Erin Grins, who perform under the name Grins & Grins. Known locally for their stilt-walking at many of Easton’s festivals as well as for performances of their comedy juggling show, the couple is branching out with their very first brick-andmortar business.
Off Center Escape Rooms will feature unique adventure games: a speakeasy-themed room that will tap into Easton’s local history and a fairy tale room that will take adventurers on a journey into a magical realm.
Info: offcenterescape.com/
And nearby …
A national chain specializing in Italian ice and ice cream is about to open its first location in Pennsylvania, and it’s in the Lehigh Valley.
Uncle Louie G will open this month at 1700 Sullivan Trail in Forks Township. The chain, which began in Brooklyn, New York, has locations in New York, Texas, Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina
The chain is known for offering more than 90 flavors of Italian ice including traditional flavors such as cherry and lemon to more unusual such as spumoni and graham cracker. Ice cream flavors are also varied and include apple pie, Brooklyn cheesecake and dulce de leche.
Uncle Louie G will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting at noon April 29.
Info: facebook.com/profile. php?id=100090005652899
Some closings
Easton’s Simon Silk Mill has lost a restaurant, The Local Eatery. The restaurant had opened as Mario’s Italian Eatery in December 2020 but shifted under the named “The Local Eatery” last fall to reflect a focus on using locally grown and sourced ingredients.
Joe’s Pizza, at 6900 Hamilton Blvd., Upper Macungie Township, has closed after 35 years. A Facebook post from the restaurant said that customers can use any remaining gift certificates at Charles Pizza in Whitehall.
Joe’s Pizza also had a location in Emmaus called Joe’s Pizza II but that closed last summer.
And openings
There’s a newcomer to Main Street Coopersburg: Jaquelyn’s on Main.
The cafe, which is at 201 N. Main St., offers a variety of coffee drinks, using freshly roasted coffee by Red Door Roaster with sweet treats baked on site. Down the road, light breakfast and lunch options will be on the menu.
Info: facebook.com/jaquelynssweetshop
Casa Criolla is expected to open by mid-May in the Downtown Allentown Market at 27 N. 7th Street. It will take over the space vacated by the former Zachary’s BBQ, which closed in July.
Casa Criolla will offer affordable meal specials such as create-yourown bowl dishes with your choice of proteins, as well as Spanish pepper steak, pork ribs, grilled chicken breast and shrimp in creole sauce. Caribbean cocktails will also be on the menu.
Info: downtownallentownmarket. com/
And an opening that’s also a relocation
FD Market is coming to the Promenade Shops, specializing in sustainable goods. It will be between Carter’s/Oshkosh and Lens Crafters and is expected to open in June.
FD Market sells refillable products including shampoo and dishwasher pods, toilet bombs and natural deodorant. The company sources and carry products that are completely sustainable, including the packaging. The store also offers educational resources and insight on how to use its products to live more sustainably.
The local business has two other locations: 348 Main St., Emmaus, and 158 Northampton St., Easton.
The business’ owners announced on Facebook that they have outgrown the Emmaus store and will close that location to relocate to the Promenade.
The Emmaus store will close by the end of the month.
It’s the latest tenant added to the Promenade Shops, which has seen a flurry of new tenants since the beginning of the year including Love Obsessed, Batch Microcreamery, and Handmade Mystic Healing Crystals and Jewelry.
Coming this fall will be Turning Point, a chain of award-winning breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurants. The 4,449-square-foot restaurant will be the chain’s first in the Lehigh Valley.
Info: fdmarketco.com/