The days of Hess’s, Leh’s and others department stores in downtown Allentown could be a distant memory, yet a brand-new lineup of smaller sized clothing retailers — from menswear store Assembly 88 to women’s shoe shop 7th & Sole — is giving fashion-conscious consumers a requirement to return.
The latest addition is women’s clothier Linnet Collections, which opened Monday at 13 N. Sixth St.
The boutique brings brand-new life to the long-vacant Americus Center hotel, which appears to be on an upward swing along with the opening of Miranda’s Hair & Beauty Studio a few months ago, the anticipated debut of Cafe Vida next month and Wednesday’s news that hotel owner Albert Abdouche received the OK from the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority to forge ahead along with renovations.
Linnet Collections owner Francesca Linnet Caba, a self-identified shopaholic, decided to open the boutique after enough friends, family and even strangers asked her where she got certain outfits.
“For the longest time, I didn’t wish to tell anyone where I got my clothes, yet now I wish to share my styles along with everyone,” she said. “I’ve found that I actually like helping people feel much better regarding the means they look.”
Caba, of Whitehall Township, conceives some of the styles herself, and sends the designs to a manufacturer in brand-new York. She plans to enroll in fashion design classes this year along with an ultimate goal of one day operating her own clothing company.
The boutique, featuring a brand-new dressing room and glass chandelier, sells apparel, shoes, jewelry and purses purchased through wholesalers.
Among the assortment of casual and cocktail attire are blouses, physique suits, crop tops and jackets. Hair extensions (14- to 26-inch) from her sister Yineidy Caba’s company, Glour Hair Extensions, likewise are available.
A majority of the clothing, available in dimensions XS to XL, is geared toward women in their 20s and 30s, Caba said, yet all ages are welcome.
Selections will certainly adjustment seasonally, she added, along with sandals, tank tops and bathing matches already being planned for the warmer months.
Prices vary, yet generally, most tops are $20 to $40, jeans and skirts start at $35 and most dresses are $50 to $80.
Linnet Collections, offering complimentary refreshments, is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Info: 484-646-3330 or linnetcollections.com.
Also in Allentown, La Guama Grocery held a grand opening Jan. 31 at 161 W. Tilghman St., near Jack’s Pizza.
Co-owned by husband and wife Miguel Hernandez and Fiordaliza Valerio, the shop sells a variety of groceries, including soda, snacks, produce, canned goods and paper products. There is likewise a deli in the spine and a shoe section in the front. Info: 610-433-3249.
Many Retail Watchers have actually inquired regarding the status of Poblano Med Mex Grill, listed as coming soon to a space adjacent to Sleepy’s mattress store in the Shoppes at Trexler on Hamilton Boulevard in Lower Macungie Township.
According to co-owner Manell Saad, the 53-seat restaurant, serving Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine, will certainly hold a soft opening within a few weeks. A grand opening celebration, featuring meals samples and promotions, will certainly follow later this month or in early March.
“This is something unique to the Lehigh Valley because where else can easily you grab both of these cuisines under one roof?” Saad said.
The ordering style will certainly be similar to Chipotle, Saad said, along with hot and cold bars allowing diners to go for which meat, beans, vegetables and others ingredients they would certainly like included in their dishes.
The Mexican part of the menu will certainly include beef, chicken and pork burritos, quesadillas and tacos, along along with cilantro-lime rice, brown rice, pinto and black beans, among others items, while Mediterranean staples such as beef and chicken kabobs, hummus along with homemade pita chips, falafel, arnabit and Jerusalem salad likewise will certainly be available.
Based on customer demand, offerings will certainly most likely grow to include others popular dishes such as shawarma and baba ghanoush, Saad said. Meats and make will certainly be sourced locally as much as possible.
The 2,400-square-foot space, previously occupied by Payless Rugs, was overhauled to include a brand-new kitchen, epoxied floor and brightly-colored walls.
Saad will certainly be operating the restaurant along with her husband, Sharif Saad, brother-in-law Jacob Saad and sister-in-law Abby Saad. Both couples live in Lower Macungie Township.
Next to The Shoppes at Trexler, two others businesses recently opened in the nearby Giant shopping center.
First, Vape Flow opened regarding a month ago at 7150 Hamilton Blvd.
The shop sells vaporizers, electronic cigarettes and accompanying accessories, along along with hookahs, hover boards and others items.
More compared to 50 varieties of e-liquids are available to sample while relaxing in lounge furniture along with a bar set to be constructed in the near future, a worker said.
A vape competition, in which people perform tricks by blowing out clouds of vapor, likewise is planned. Info: 917-847-2892.
Second, Bliss Nails opened a few weeks ago in a brand-new strip mall spot in front of Giant.
Owned by Larry Nguyen, the business invites you to “escape, relax, renew” along with finish nail services, as well as facials, massages and waxing. Special nail art, featuring custom designs, are available, along along with eyelash extensions.
There are 12 manicure stations and 10 pedicure chairs. Walk-ins are welcome and student discounts are offered. Info: 610-841-5689 or blissnailstrexlertown.com.
Also at the brand-new strip mall, People Very first Credit Union, now near Marshall’s, is at the same time of outfitting its brand-new space. Two spots are listed as available.
Another area along with a lot of retail activity is Whitehall Township.
First, at the Whitehall Mall on Grape Street, Mission BBQ is preparing to open at the site that previously housed Boston Market in July, according to a news release.
The popular chain, which debuted on Sept. 11, 2001, serves “all American food” such as brisket, pulled pork, ribs, baked beans and mac and cheese. All dishes are made from fresh ingredients and served in a patriotic -themed eating room.
Founded by two patriotic friends that are passionate regarding barbecue and serving those that serve, Mission BBQ operates at Much more compared to 20 locations on the East Coast.
The brand-new restaurant will certainly join others eateries at the mall, including Buffalo Wild Wings and Old Country Buffet. Info: mission-bbq.com.
Second, a major European grocery chain is expanding its footprint in to North America and will certainly be opening one of its Very first American stores at 2845 MacArthur Road, according to Whitehall Mayor Ed Hozza Jr.
German supermarket chain Lidl will certainly open a brand-new “retro looking” store on a part of the vacant property next to Gilboy Ford at a yet-to-be-determined date, Hozza said.
“They have actually not shared exactly what format they strategy to open in North America — their traditional German format or a brand-new format similar to Trader Joe’s,” said Hozza, noting that Aldi, the chain’s main competitor, is owned by the same company as Trader Joe’s.
In June, the chain disclosed plans to build between 100 and 200 stores in the country by 2018. It already operates 10,000 stores across Europe.
Hozza did not know of a tentative opening date and a message to the company seeking that write-up was not returned. The brand-new supermarket will certainly be merely north of a Giant Food Store.
The news comes a few weeks after a Lidl representative presented plans at a Wilson Borough Council meeting for a 36,000-square-foot Lidl supermarket at 1120 S. 25th St. It would certainly be at the southeast corner of Freemansburg Avenue and 25th Street, across from Aldi.
Lidl had already presented plans to the Wilson preparing Commission and are currently working along with PennDOT concerning traffic plans and the state Department of Environmental Protection for storm water issues. It is unclear as quickly as construction could start on that store. Info: lidl.co.uk.
Finally, construction of a brand-new Chic-fil-A restaurant in the MacArthur Towne Focus at 2610 MacArthur Road must start next month, according to Hozza.
The structure will certainly be where previous dining establishments such as Tokyo Fish and shellfish Buffet and Grill and Don Pablo’s once stood.
A message to the company seeking a tentative opening date was not returned.
There are Much more compared to a half dozen Chic-fil-A dining establishments in the Lehigh Valley, including one at the nearby Lehigh Valley Mall. Info: chick-fil-a.com.
Retail Watch keeps monitor of brand-new store, restaurant and bank development in the Lehigh Valley. have actually a question regarding a retail construction project, store opening or chain you’d like to see come to the area? Contact reporter Ryan Kneller at 610-820-6597 or retailwatch@mcall.com. Retail Watch appears every Sunday.
No comments:
Post a Comment