Taste of New York comes to the Valley
Uncle Louie G in Forks Township offers festive frozen treats
For Anthony Freeman, a required part of growing up in
New York was having an Italian ice.
When he moved from Brooklyn to Forks Township four years ago, Freeman was missing that frozen taste of home. Unfortunately, he wasn’t finding anything that matched what he had growing up.
So when an opportunity arose to open a franchise of a popular New York-based, authentic Italian ice and ice cream chain, he jumped at the chance.
Uncle Louie G just opened at 1700 Sullivan Trail in Forks Township. (As you enter the main parking lot of the shopping center, it’s on the left side).
The chain, which began in Brooklyn, has locations in New York,
Texas, Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina. It’s not only the first in the Lehigh Valley but the first in the Keystone state.
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.
But the quintessential New York flavor is rainbow, featuring a swirl of lemon, blue raspberry and cherry.
“Rainbow is always going to be the most popular,” Freeman said.
The difference you’ll find at Uncle Louie G’s is that the Italian ice, no matter what flavor you choose, has a more refreshing, icy texture than what you’ll find at that other major chain operating in our area.
Uncle Louie G also has a wide assortment of hard-serve ice cream in flavors such as apple pie and Brooklyn cheesecake. You can also get shakes and sundaes.
And for the full, authentic New York experience, you can also get an egg cream, which is a cold drink made with milk, seltzer and a flavored syrup (usually chocolate).
Info: facebook.com/profile. php?id=100090005652899
News about the former Gregory’s Steakhouse
I have had a lot of folks reach out saying they’ve seen some activity at the former Gregory’s Steakhouse at 2201 Schoenersville Road, Hanover Township, Northampton County.
The property will become a primary care practice and an occupational medicine office for St. Luke’s Health Network and is expected to open in late summer.
Five Guys opening date
If you love Five Guys, I have some good news.
The newest location of the restaurant
has opened in the 2400 block of MacArthur Road, in a shopping center that now hosts SaladWorks, China Hunt, Pizza Hut, Health Network Labs and Pretzel Factory, said Nirav H. Shah of Tenant Managers, the project’s developer. The restaurant open daily at 11 a.m.
Five Guys has 63 locations in Pennsylvania, including in Allentown; Hanover Township, Lehigh County; Lower Nazareth Township; and Quakertown. It’s known for its fresh, hand-formed burgers, shakes and boardwalk-style fries.
Info: restaurants.fiveguys. com/2401-2419-macarthur-road
In more ‘opening’ news
In just a few short months, a national chain of plant-based soaps and cleaners has opened its second location in our area.
Buff City Soap is open at at 218 N. West End Blvd. in Quakertown. It’s the sixth location in Pennsylvania for the growing chain.
What you won’t find at Buff City Soap are harsh detergents and soaps mass-produced and made with chemicals and animal fats. The chain specializes in fresh-scented plantbased soaps, handmade daily in each location, which they call “makeries.”
Best-sellers include “Narcissist Soap,” which they say makes you fall in love with your own scent and combines raspberry, peach, patchouli and sandalwood; seasonal soaps; body butters; and bath bombs.
Buff City opened its first location in the Lehigh Valley area in November in the Airport Shopping Center in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.
Info: http://quakertownpa.buffcitysoap.com/
The Wild Turkey Grill is open
The Club at Twin Lakes, formerly known as Iron Lakes Country Club, 3625 Shankweiler Road in North Whitehall Township.
The golf course was purchased in December by David Jaindl, owner and president of neighboring Jaindl Farms, an enterprise which includes Jaindl Turkey Sales, Jaindl Land Company, Jaindl Beverage (A-Treat), and Schantz Orchards. Wild Turkey Grill specializes in modern American cuisine.
Hours: 11 to 7 p.m. daily. Info, reservations: 610-395-3369 or http:// theclubattwinlakes.com/
Fireside, Great Wolf Lodge’s newest restaurant, is now open. The new eatery, which specializes in firecooked food, is part of the Poconos resort’s multi-million dollar renovation project. It’s a full-service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Great Wolf Lodge is at 1 Great Wolf Drive, Scotrun (Monroe County). Info: greatwolf.com/poconos/ dining-shopping/dining/fireside
Bankruptcy brings store closures
Time is ticking down for Bed Bath & Beyond’s three stores in the Lehigh Valley.
The company, which owns its namesake stores as well as Buy Buy Baby, filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month. In the filing the company said it planned to close all stores by the end of the month.
Bed Bath & Beyond’s Whitehall store is at 1223 Whitehall Mall and its Bethlehem Township store is at 4449 Southmont Way. Buy Buy Baby has one Lehigh Valley location at 1915 Whitehall Mall.
Lehigh Valley is losing another hot dog shop
Mad Dog Hot Dogs, which is at 17 N. Poplar St., Macungie, is closing as the owners look to retire.
Mad Dog Hot Dogs specializes in unique twists on the classic hot dogs. Examples include a bacon-wrapped, cheese-stuffed hot dog and the King Kong — two grilled dogs on one roll topped with hickory smoked bacon, crinkle-cut fries, homemade chili sauce and Cheez Whiz. The shop also offers unique soda flavors and sweet treats such as a moon-pie sampler, giant peanut-butter cups (in a variety of flavors), ice cream and sundaes.
It’s the latest hot dog shop in the Valley to announce it’s closing. Willy Joe’s on Lehigh Street in Allentown closed over the weekend after 45 years in business. Pete’s Hot Dog Shop, which has been at 400 Broadway in south Bethlehem for nearly 85 years, closed in March.
Info: facebook.com/maddogsmacungie
Keep those tips coming: Reach out if you see any openings and closings of new retail businesses or restaurants around the Valley. Email: jsheehan@mcall. com and include “Retail Watch” in the subject line.