The mercury was high when I wrote this column Wednesday afternoon, so my mind was on frozen treats.
I'm tired of writing about frozen yogurt, so I shifted to another frozen treat — smoothies.
That takes this column to Pacific Smoothie in south Bethlehem.
The popular chill spot has changed hands, now owned by husband and wife Giorgi Kavelidze and Marina Gabunia of Allentown.
The two took on the venture for their daughter, Erna Kavelidze, who has always wanted to have her own smoothie shop. Kavelidze, a recent Dieruff High School graduate, is the shop's manager.
The family retained the business' quirky interior decor, including a pineapple, a poster of Uncle Sam and other random decorations.
Pacific Smoothie will keep churning out those signature smoothies selections from Pinch of Pineapple, to Kiwi-Strawberry Creation and Lehigh Lime, which is made with raspberry juice, lime sherbet, strawberries and raspberries.
The new owners added ice cream, milkshakes and some new smoothie flavors like chocolate peanut butter.
Pacific Smoothie was started in 2004 by then-Lehigh University students Phil Fusacchia and J.D. Mumford.
Mumford, originally from Portola Valley, Calif., saw there was a need for a local smoothie shop to mirror those established on the West Coast.
Website: http://www.pacificsmoothie.com
Another addition for south Bethlehem is Sunrise Convenience store, at 11 E. Fourth St.
The store carries staples like bread, milk and eggs, but also candy and other treats.
Perkins will reopen its restaurant at 205 W. Third St. on July 2, spokeswoman Vivian Brooks said, bringing new life to a building that has been lifeless since July 2010.
It's not known why Perkins decided to reopen, but I doubt many are complaining. The restaurant originally opened in 2000 and has been popular with nearby Lehigh University students.
Perkins emerged from bankruptcy protection last year, but not before closing dozens of its roughly 600 restaurants because of reduced consumer spending and higher costs for ingredients.
Perkins has five restaurants in the Lehigh Valley.
For years, I have been writing about the delayed Molly Brannigans pub in the former Farr shoe building at Broad and New streets. The saga has been unfolding in Retail Watch since before my tenure started in 2008.
Renovations are progressing on the four-story building with two dozen apartments on its upper floors. Plans to open Molly Brannigans on the lower level are no more, according to Amy Pektor.
Pektor, a member of the building's ownership, confirmed that the Brannigans deal has fallen through and the owners are seeking another tenant. Pektor owns the building with sister Lisa Pektor and Anthony Scarcia.
