Praise mom at Point Phillips Hotel

May 11, 2013

Happy Mother's Day, maternal retail watchers! To mark the occasion, I thought that I would highlight a place that is sure to make mom's taste buds dance any day of the year: the Point Phillips Hotel in Moore Township. Built circa 1806, the tavern was reopened to diners April 23.

Rodizio Grill brings Rio to Allentown

May 4, 2013

Can't afford a trip to Rio de Janeiro? That's OK — me neither. Fortunately, Rodizio Grill will be serving authentic Brazilian cuisine closer to home beginning Wednesday at the former site of Bob Evans, 2805 Lehigh St. in Allentown. Can you afford a trip to Allentown? Don't answer that.

Couple bring yoga, inspiration to Hellertown

April 20, 2013

Greetings, shoppers, diners and business-minded folks! My name is Ryan Kneller, and I hope to form a close relationship with all of you as I navigate the ever-changing world of retail in the Lehigh Valley.

Welcome spring at the new Menchie's at Airport Center

April 13, 2013

When I started writing the Retail Watch column last fall, I worried that I'd never be able to dig up enough new information each week to pass along to Morning Call readers.

Apricot Lane Boutique, a store for fashionistas, opens at Promenade Shops

April 6, 2013

One of the nicest things about shopping at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley is being outdoors, especially in springtime.

Escape to Quakertown for patisserie treats at Moussey Moose Chocolates

March 30, 2013

With the aroma of chocolate bunnies and chocolate-covered coconut cream and pecan eggs filling many homes throughout the Lehigh Valley, what better way to start an Easter Sunday column than to talk about chocolate and tell you about a new place to buy it?

Mama's Italian Grill offers food like mama used to make

March 23, 2013

I'll always be a proponent of getting a good education. But in my heart, I know the most valuable lessons I've learned in life did not come from a classroom.

Market Café at Wegmans will open Thursday

March 16, 2013

Some things seem to take forever in the retail world, like the opening of the new Weis Markets in Fogelsville or the Golden Corral at Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township. Eager shoppers and diners couldn't wait for either of those places to be up and running.

A new life for furniture in Quakertown

March 9, 2013

Ah, if only I could grant wishes. I'd wave my magic wand and make Costco, Trader Joe's and The Cheesecake Factory open in the Lehigh Valley within the next two weeks.

Pamper your pet at Premier Pet Grooming

March 2, 2013

Anyone who knows me, knows my life usually revolves around my dog, Ranger. Nothing but the best will do for my sweet-natured, energetic Lab. He has more toys than some human children. And I'm willing to pay the price for a good, holistic dog food. In fact, it's a standing joke in my home that Ranger eats better than the humans in my family.

New shop in Bath has gift baskets for all occasions

February 23, 2013

Have you ever had a tough time figuring out what to give as a gift?

GingerBread House is a treat for the senses

February 16, 2013

First, I'd like to thank all the kind readers who welcomed me back to work and to Retail Watch after my extended medical leave. It really warms my heart to know how caring you all are.

Find a taste of the South at Pig Out BBQ Pit

February 9, 2013

I just spent the last 2 1/2 months in retail withdrawal.

Wegmans moves ahead with expansion

February 2, 2013

When you pull into the parking lot, the changes that have been under way for the past year are immediately clear.

Sue's Massage and Wellness Center opens in Bangor

January 26, 2013

By Jennifer Sheehan, Of The Morning Call

Cafe the Lodge opens in south Bethlehem

January 19, 2013

Habitat for Humanity of Lehigh Valley opens ReStore

January 12, 2013

By Jennifer Sheehan, Of The Morning Call

An Easton sports bar and nightclub wrapped into one

January 5, 2013

By Jennifer Sheehan, Of The Morning Call

Cozze Cakes opens in Nazareth

December 29, 2012

By Jennifer Sheehan, Of The Morning Call

Books, food, flowers and more at Rodale's General Store

December 23, 2012

By Jennifer Sheehan, Of The Morning Call

Larry Holmes reopens Champ's Corner restaurant

December 16, 2012

By Jennifer Sheehan, Of The Morning Call

Weis opens its largest, 'greenest' store in Lehigh Valley

December 9, 2012

Fogelsville residents have been waiting a long time for their own full-scale supermarket. Based on my advance tour, I think they'll be thrilled when the Weis Markets on Route 100 opens its doors Sunday.

Italian restaurateur gets back in the game

November 24, 2012

Restaurateur Paolo Nota is no stranger to the Lehigh Valley's dining scene. He earned his fame as owner and chef at Paolo's Italian Restaurant in Northampton, where he won the hearts and stomachs of Italian food lovers with his large selection of fare offered in super-sized portions.

Broad St. Pizzeria serves up a slice of Italy in Bethlehem

November 17, 2012

After opening Jack's Brick Oven Pizza & Restaurant along Route 191 in Lower Nazareth Township in Spring 2011, Jack Randazzo soon began to see the potential for a second Italian restaurant — in Bethlehem.

New jewelry store will charm Pandora fans

November 10, 2012

Women who love creating personalized bracelets with Pandora jewelry charms will be delighted to hear that the Lehigh Valley's first Pandora retail store opened about two weeks ago at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley.

Power outage doesn't dim the charm at Emmaus shops

November 3, 2012

Wow! What a crazy week it has been for retail — a week of feast and famine.

Is Easton becoming the Valley's dining hot spot?

October 27, 2012

When Josh Palmer opened his restaurant, Sette Luna, in Easton's historic district seven years ago, he had a good feeling about the struggling city's revitalization efforts. Today, he's even more confident. His urban Tuscan trattoria at 219 Ferry St. is still going strong.

Let the grocery wars begin

October 22, 2012

Let's face it, there's nothing like a good grocery war to bring down prices. It often happens when grocers within close proximity of each other are in direct competition to win your patronage.

Walmart Supercenter to open in Whitehall

October 13, 2012

In my debut column last Sunday, I asked for your help. Since it's difficult for me to see everything going on around the Lehigh Valley, I asked you to be my eyes, as well, and watch for new retail activity in your area.

Ross Dress for Less opens new store at South Mall

October 6, 2012

When Tyrone Richardson said this column generates a lot of feedback, he wasn't kidding.

Burger bar coming to Bethlehem

September 29, 2012

Billy Kounoupis prides himself on breaking from the norm.

New life for former Circuit City building

September 22, 2012

The bankruptcy and closing of several hundred Circuit City stores in late 2008 dealt a serious blow to the nation's already weak retail scene.

Luke Skywalker inspires Allentown business

September 15, 2012

I'm sure many remember the lessons their parents bestowed upon them, like the value of a hard-earned dollar.

Holistic pet store opens in Hellertown

September 8, 2012

The loss of Paws to Tail in the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley earlier this year left a void for those dog and cat owners depending on the shop for its natural, holistic and organic raw, dry and canned pet foods and treats.

Malaysian restaurant opens in south Bethlehem

September 1, 2012

As promised last week, this Sunday's column continues the restaurant-watch theme.

Local pizzeria dishes Scranton recipe

August 25, 2012

There's been a hearty helping of restaurant news in recent days. I mean a lot … so much that I think I will call this and next week's column "Restaurant Watch."

Downtown Allentown gets soul food

August 18, 2012

The Caring Place, a downtown Allentown nonprofit that helps at-risk kids in the Lehigh Valley, has been innovative in finding ways to pay its bills as public dollars have shrunk.

Bookstore chain bucking trend

August 11, 2012

Some say bookstores are on the brink of extinction, along with video and music stores, as consumers migrate to the digital world.

Legendary restaurateur shifts gears

August 4, 2012

"When will you reopen The Shanty Restaurant?"

Barbecue added to Newhard's Corn Shed

July 28, 2012

Summertime usually means the smoky aroma of barbecue isn't too hard to find.

Painting parties brighten Bethlehem's retail canvas

July 21, 2012

Bethlehem keeps me busy with its retail churn and prospects.

Mobile cigar lounge rolls through Valley

July 14, 2012

A lot of retail comes on wheels these days.

Nazareth's retail scene tunes up

July 7, 2012

C.F. Martin & Co., a product of the Lehigh Valley, is known for making sweet music around the globe.

Cupcakery adds something sweet to Topton

June 30, 2012

Topton is an ideal small American town with a bank, pub, pizzeria, hardware store, salon and barbershop in its business district.

Pacific Smoothie adds to its sweetness

June 23, 2012

The mercury was high when I wrote this column Wednesday afternoon, so my mind was on frozen treats.

Lehigh Township archery shop a hit for hunters

June 17, 2012

A.T. Gillespie and Lisa Folajtar, two avid archery competitors, have been talking about opening their own place for the sport for awhile.

Studio Fitness opens in Bethlehem

June 9, 2012

Les Solomon grew tired of the aging equipment at a local fitness center where he worked as a cycling instructor.

Lehigh Valley Mall anchor catches more than the eye

June 2, 2012

I recently walked through The Outdoor Shops at the Lehigh Valley Mall and noticed something odd.

Sports hub opens in Lehighton

May 29, 2012

For years, Steve Strauss and J. Christopher West have noticed the Lehighton area could use a one-stop fitness and sports center.

Phillipsburg Mall ordered for sale

May 19, 2012

Phillipsburg Mall is home to anchors like Sears, Bon-Ton, Kohl's and JCPenney's.

Easton's retail landscape grows

May 12, 2012

Jamie Leisy and Dawn Keagy scan estate sales and garage sales in search of furniture and accessories they can refurbish or re-purpose.

Charles Paul Gem Designs is closing

May 5, 2012

C. Paul Stubbe has been creating gemstone jewelry for decades.

Emmaus retail world full of changes

April 28, 2012

Katie Rothermel looked over the sea of merchants in Emmaus and knew there was something missing.

Lehigh Valley movie theaters ditch film

April 21, 2012

The Grand Theater in East Greenville hosted a "Farewell to Film" ceremony last Sunday with a double-feature movie followed by live theatrics: Co-owner Ed Buchinski, clad in an all-black suit, walked the film reels from the theater and into the back of a waiting hearse.

Kutztown's Main Street continues retail renaissance

April 14, 2012

It's been awhile since Retail Watch ventured to Kutztown, so let's go there today.

Bethlehem's Starfish Brasserie restaurant to close for awhile

April 7, 2012

Starfish Brasserie has been an anchor of downtown Bethlehem for more than a decade, a staple on the city's restaurant row, well-known for its interesting seafood dishes and loyal dinner crowd.

Bicycle shop rolls into Allentown Fairgrounds

March 31, 2012

Michael Moyer saw Worksman Cycles for the first time during a trip to New York City last year.

Lehigh Valley gets new electronics recycling business

March 24, 2012

Judging by the green residue coating cars and just about anything else it can stick to, spring is in the air.

Beer distributors hop into brewing

March 17, 2012

Craft beer's popularity has kept beer distributors busy reorganizing shelves to accommodate what is a seemingly never-ending selection from microbrewers.

High-end denim store opens in Easton

March 10, 2012

Easton's downtown has been a destination for Sandy D'Imperio and Rich Lepowsky. They regularly trekked from Manhattan to the city for its restaurants and the State Theatre.

Local gown shop expands to storefront

March 3, 2012

Frustrated with a limited gown selection in the Lehigh Valley, Jane Heimbecker quietly opened an online store, Le Femme Boutique, in 2008

Japanese restaurant opens in Palmer Township

February 25, 2012

For roughly a decade, Donny Chen has worked at Japanese restaurants but always planned to open his own.

Lehigh Valley finally gets barber school

February 18, 2012

Apparently the Lehigh Valley region has a lot of talented hairstylists and barbers, but without a license, they can't cut hair legally.

Frozen yogurt is hot again in Lehigh Valley

February 11, 2012

Lehigh Valley frozen yogurt shops in the 1980s and 1990s were nothing like they are today.

Italian restaurant opens in Bethlehem

February 4, 2012

Months ago, I mentioned that Molto Pazzo opened in the former Olio Italian restaurant space at 553 Main St., in downtown Bethlehem.

Lehigh Valley shopping centers finally fill up

January 28, 2012

Airport Center opened in 2009 to tepid fanfare, its prospects dampened by a sea of empty storefronts and broken commitments from merchants.

Online flatware company adds retail store

January 21, 2012

Ever since its inception more than a decade ago, mytableware.com has sold an array of china, glassware and other home goods largely through the online marketplace.

Allentown merchant playing on nostalgia

January 14, 2012

Downtown Allentown's retail world has seen some major changes in recent months, with merchants being uprooted to pave the way for the much-ballyhooed minor league hockey arena.

Chef returns to his roots

January 7, 2012

Sixteen years ago, Joseph Jurkivo was a busboy at Pane e Vino Italian restaurant at 2118 Schoenersville Road in Hanover Township, Northampton County, eager to make his mark on the region's food service industry.

Another year of restaurant news?

December 31, 2011

In the Lehigh Valley's retail world, 2011 was chock-full of big restaurant news

Hot Yoga warms up in Lehigh Valley

December 24, 2011

'Tis the time of year for planning another round of New Year's resolutions.

Pepper spray store opens in Bethlehem

December 17, 2011

I'm sure many have walked by The Pepper Spray Store on the lower level of the Main Street Commons in downtown Bethlehem and wondered what the heck the place is about.

Strange Brew taps into Allentown

December 10, 2011

I hope you're ready for a heap of restaurant news … 'cause we're about to dig in!

Toying with nostalgia

December 4, 2011

Did you ever stumble upon a toy from your childhood that makes you pause, remembering the days of carefree playtime?

Shuttered eateries come back to life

November 26, 2011

Over the past few days, some once-shuttered popular Lehigh Valley restaurants and pubs have come back to life.

White Castle brings more than burgers

November 19, 2011

The lines for Black Friday's jaw-dropping deals at Best Buy and Target may pale in comparison to the crowds outside the recently-opened White Castle in Whitehall.