Coronavirus forces closures

Pub, entertainment facility in Bethlehem area join the list of pandemic-related casualties

Two Bethlehem area hangouts joined a growing list of Lehigh Valley business casualties stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

Taps Tavern, a Lower Saucon Township restaurant and bar offering American fare and 60 draft beers, and The Mill, a Bethlehem Township indoor entertainment center offering laser tag and miniature golf, recently ended operations as a result of state business restrictions related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

In a message posted Friday on Taps’ Facebook page, owner Andy Lee and the restaurant’s management team informed patrons that the business will not be reopening “even when this pandemic slows down.”

“Unfortunately, the economic toll of having to close in mid-March was too much for our restaurant to survive,” the message reads. “… Our hearts are heavy knowing that our employees and customers won’t be able to congregate together again. Please keep our employees in your thoughts. They are smart, talented, friendly people who, like many others affected by this pandemic, are struggling to find employment.”

As of Monday morning, the post had garnered more than 270 shares and more than 200 comments. Most were from customers expressing sadness over the news and reminiscing over good times at the restaurant, which opened in 2015 at the former Starters Pub building in the Saucon Valley Square shopping center on Route 378.

“My husband and I had our first date here,” Beverly Holzer recalled. “Will be sad to see you go.”

“They had the best chili and the best staff,” Ruth Harton commented. “I’m sorry for all of this.”

“I am literally crying right now,” Paula Montgomery added. “Businesses, whether succeeding or struggling during this pandemic are our community. I am praying for all employees who will be looking for other ways to support their families.”

Lee continues to operate Hellertown’s Braveheart Highland Pub, a 13-year-old Scottish and American restaurant that recently added an adjacent outdoor dining area.

The wooden deck, offering seating for about 20-24 diners with social distancing guidelines in place and about 45 diners under normal circumstances, was completed just in time for Friday’s resumption of outdoor dining service at Lehigh Valley restaurants, part of the yellow phase of Gov. Tom Wolf ’s reopening plan.

In response to a customer’s question about the redemption of Taps gift certificates, a manager said that Lee is looking into accepting them at Braveheart in the near future.

“We are working to hopefully accept Taps gift cards at Braveheart when we are fully operational again,” the manager wrote.

The Mill, which opened in 2015 at 3713 Linden St., on Saturday announced its permanent closure via a post on its Facebook page.

The 12,000-square-foot facility, featuring a “retro-industrial theme,” offered laser tag, an 18-hole miniature golf course and an indoor food truck.

“Like many businesses in America impacted by COVID-19, we were ordered to close temporarily ten weeks ago,” the post reads. “In our case, that order coincided with one of our busiest periods of the year.”

“We cannot see a way forward after the economic damage caused by that loss of revenue and Pennsylvania’s continuing mandate for the closure of ‘red zone’ businesses like ours. Despite our best efforts, we can’t conceive a financially sustainable scenario where laser tag, miniature golf and onsite food preparation will be viewed by the public as ‘safe’ in the immediate months to follow. Put simply, we’ve run out of time.”

As of Monday morning, the post had garnered nearly 50 shares and 40 comments.

“We are going to miss you and our fun times here!” Kristy Schreiber Curtin wrote.

“This is so sad!” Cori Jar added. “We love playing laser tag here! Both of my kids have had their birthday parties here too!”

The Mill was the vision of owner Mike Principato, who wished to incorporate miniature replicas and murals of local industrial landmarks such as Bethlehem Steel’s blast furnaces into the facility. Customers who were scheduled to host events at The Mill have been notified that they will receive refunds of their deposits.

“This was not an easy decision,” the post continues. “The Mill was an original, one-of-akind business concept brought to life five years ago by a local family and a dedicated team of young employees who had a lot of time, energy and money invested in its success. Painful as this is, we wanted to use this last post to our customers to tell you that we enjoyed and are grateful for your support and loyalty during the five years since we opened.”

Taps and The Mill join a handful of other Lehigh Valley business casualties of the pandemic.

Leah’s Lucky Finds, a nearly year-old Walnutport consignment shop offering a variety of women’s fashions, and the downtown Allentown location of Sorrelli, a family-owned jewelry design company offering handcrafted pieces, recently ended operations.

Sorrelli, founded in 1983, continues to operate its flagship store in Kutztown, while Leah’s Lucky Finds owner Leah Moyer continues to operate an online store.

Just west of Lehighton, Mahoning Valley Cinema, a 24-year-old, eight-screen theater at 1241 Blakeslee Blvd. in Mahoning Township, on April 21 announced “with great sadness” that it will not reopen after the state-mandated closure of nonessential businesses is lifted, “whenever that may occur.”

“We are but one of the small business casualties resulting from the shutdown,” read a post on the theater’s Facebook page, which has since been deactivated.

Additionally, CafE Bachi’s, a tenant of Emmaus’ East Penn Plaza for nine years before shifting to catering only last June, on May 19 closed permanently after seeing its clientele, which included East Penn School District and pharmaceutical companies, vanish amid the pandemic.

“When this all hit, it became obvious to us that not only did our pharmaceutical catering go away, but all large parties of 10 or more people went away,” co-owner Josh Berk explained. “And I don’t foresee when that will be coming back.”

According to a survey published April 14 by Main Street America, a network of more than 1,600 commercial districts comprising 300,000 small businesses, nearly 7.5 million small businesses are in danger of closing permanently over the next five months as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

MSA conducted the online survey March 25 to April 6. More than 5,850 small business owners responded, of which 91% of respondents reported owning businesses with fewer than 20 employees. More than 600 Pennsylvania businesses responded, including retail stores, restaurants, salons, motels and professional services such as banking, legal and real estate.

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