PALMER TWP., Pa. – A prominent shopping mall in Northampton County will welcome two well-known businesses in 2025.
The Palmer Park Mall, at Park Avenue and Nazareth Road in Palmer Township, is adding two new tenants – Footlights & Co. Boutique and Ohana WonderTown Playground – to its roster early next year.
Footlights, offering a wide array of designer prom dresses, bridal gowns and other formalwear, is expected to open in mid-January next to Bath & Body Works, owner Gina Penzarella said.
Footlights has been helping women look their best for all special occasions for nearly 30 years, Penzarella said.
Penzarella and her mother, also named Gina, established Footlights in 1995.
The pair originally ran the business at the Northampton Crossings shopping center on Easton Nazareth Highway in Lower Nazareth Township before moving operations about two miles northwest to a larger space at 4034 Jandy Blvd. in Lower Nazareth about 10 years ago.
In moving to the Palmer Park Mall next month, Footlights is again expanding into a larger space, Penzarella said.
“I’m extremely excited to be joining the Palmer Park Mall,” Penzarella said.
“We’ve been the king of prom season since we started in 1995, and we’re going to be expanding our inventory as well as our bridal gown selection when we move to the new space. We carry sizes 0 to 24, and we also carry a lot of really beautiful mother of the bride dresses as well as homecoming dresses.”
Footlights carries top designers’ dresses in a wide variety of colors and styles, and all prom dress purchases are registered – with the girls’ names and their high schools – “so no girl shows up to prom in a dress that someone else is wearing,” Penzarella said.
“People come from all over – not just the Lehigh Valley – for our prom dresses,” Penzarella added. “We have classic dresses, really unique dresses and all of the latest styles that girls are looking for. Everything is extremely high quality.”
To help with the move, Footlights is hosting a sale with steep discounts on all bridal and prom dresses through late December at its current location on Jandy Boulevard, Penzarella said.
At the Palmer Park Mall, Footlights will operate in space that is currently occupied by Day 2 Night Style – a business offering women’s clothing, shoes and accessories – which is operating at the mall through the holidays.
Following the store's closure, Day 2 Night owner Michele Roy plans to continue selling items on the business’ website,day2nightstyle.com.
In coordination with Footlights and the Palmer Park Mall’s jewelry retailers, the mall is planning to host a wedding expo in the spring, according to Karla Saavedra, the mall's general manager.
“We’re very excited to welcome Footlights because it’s a prominent local business, and Palmer Park continues to be a community mall,” Saavedra said.
Also coming soon to the Palmer Park Mall is a second location of Ohana WonderTown Playground, a multi-level children's recreational facility, which is expected to open in early 2025.
Owner Yadira Disla opened the first Ohana WonderTown Playground in July 2023 at the South Mall in Salisbury Township.
The new Palmer venue will feature a similar concept to the South Mall location, with foam flooring and bi-level, soft-play structures featuring bridges, tunnels, sliding boards, obstacle courses, ball pits, foam pits, climbing apparatus and more.
There also will be small trampolines and a variety of ride-on toys.
The new indoor playground will cover about 4,000 square feet, roughly 1,000 square feet more than the South Mall location, Disla said.
The design will differ from the South Mall facility in that it will offer two play areas – one on each side of the space.
One side will be for ages 5 and younger, and the other side will be for ages 8 and under (or up to 4 feet, 9 inches tall), Disla said.
At the South Mall, Ohana features one play area that is geared toward children, ages 6 and younger (or up to 4 feet tall).
Disla is excited to serve more families in the Lehigh Valley as well as satisfy frequent requests from customers.
“I am very excited,” Disla said.
“A lot of people have wanted me to open something bigger for their kids who were outgrowing the facility at the South Mall. I’ve also had a lot of customers ask me to open a location in the Bethlehem or Easton areas because that is more convenient for them.”
The South Mall location can accommodate around 35 kids, and Disla anticipates the Palmer location will accommodate around 60.
The new Palmer location also will feature seating areas for parents and a party room for hosting birthday parties, graduation parties, sports celebrations and other gatherings.
Daily admission at the South Mall location is $12 Monday through Thursday and $13 Friday through Sunday, and Disla anticipates pricing at the Palmer Park location will be $13 Monday through Thursday and $14 Friday through Sunday.
Ohana also offers a membership option, where children can enjoy unlimited visits for $37 per month.
While playing at Ohana, children must wear grip socks, $2.50 per pair, which they can wear on return visits. If they already have grip socks from other venues such as trampoline parks, they may wear those, Disla said.
Joining a growing roster
Footlights and Ohana WonderTown are joining a growing lineup of businesses at the Palmer Park Mall.
Other recent additions include Wrap’d Tight Fully Loaded 2.0, Back to the Arcade II, Uncle JuJu’s Crazy Deals and Aroma Authentic Indian Cuisine.
Wrap’d Tight Fully Loaded 2.0, specializing in gourmet wraps, salads and loaded baked potatoes, held a soft opening Nov. 23 and 24.
A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony is tentatively set for Dec. 10.
The fast-casual restaurant, with seating for around 20 customers, fills a renovated space that was previously home to a Subway eatery.
Wrap’d Tight was established in 2005 on Bethlehem’s South Side, originally operating at the Five Points intersection before moving to a now-demolished building at South New and Third streets in Bethlehem and then moving again to its current location at 2027 Willow Park Road in Bethlehem Township.
The business offers catering, delivery and pick-up services from its Willow Park Road location, and chef and owner Heather Griffith also hosts events for up to 60 people at a catering hall in the same shopping plaza.
Griffith also is bringing the business’ new mobile food trailer to local events as well as breweries and other venues.
The trailer is making appearances at festivals and other public events, and it can also be rented for private functions such as birthday parties, graduation parties and corporate gatherings.
“We’re super excited to be expanding operations with our food truck and also our new location at the Palmer Park Mall,” Griffith said. “We’re going to be tapping into a whole new audience in the Easton area, and we’re super pumped and grateful for the opportunity.”
Wrap’d Tight is known for its gourmet wraps, salads and loaded baked potatoes.
Customers can enjoy original wraps such as BLT, tuna salad, turkey bacon cheddar and ham Swiss veggie, along with specialty wraps such as chicken Caesar, chicken spinach feta (fresh spinach, red onion, seasoned crumbled feta cheese, sauteed chicken breast and balsamic vinegar), chef salad (crisp green lettuce, turkey, ham, Swiss and American cheeses, red onion, boiled egg, lightly crumbled croutons and zesty ranch dressing) and bacon cheeseburger deluxe (seasoned hamburger strips, melted cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, ketchup and tomato bacon sauce).
Customer favorites include the “Hunny on Honey” wrap (lettuce, honey turkey, honey ham, onions, sweet peppers and honey mustard) and “The KRIT” wrap (seasoned chicken, avocado, tomato, red onion, mixed greens and garden vegetable sauce).
"Wrap Grillers,” wraps that are toasted on the grill, include options like chicken fajita, chicken cordon bleu, meatball parmesan and “Monte Crisp Griller” (ham, Swiss, turkey, mayonnaise and mustard, dipped in batter, grilled and lightly dusted with powdered sugar with jam on the side).
“We do hot wraps, cold wraps and even lettuce wraps for our gluten-free customers,” Griffith said. “We have items for everyone, including vegans. We take care of everybody.”
By just reading the business’ name, most people wouldn’t know that one of Wrap’d Tight’s most popular selections is its wide array of overstuffed baked potatoes.
Around a dozen baked potato varieties include a “Steak ‘n Potato” (slow-cooked sliced steak with sauteed onion gravy) and “Southwest Chicken” (chicken, black bean corn salsa and cheese).
Top-sellers include the “All or Nothing” (butter, sour cream, chives, crumbled bacon, melted cheddar cheese, broccoli, chili and chicken) and “Hot Potato” (Buffalo chicken, cheese and hot peppers).
“This is a great next step for us, and we’re very much looking forward to expanding our reach and meeting new friends,” Griffith said of the Palmer Park Mall location.
Back to the Arcade II opened Nov. 8 in a renovated space next to Spin Me Round record store.
The arcade is a second location of Back to the Arcade, which has operated at the South Mall since November 2021.
Prior to 2021, owner Mark Paden ran the business for about two years out of the now-closed Merchants Square Mall in Allentown.
The South Mall location will continue to operate as normal, Paden said.
“I’m really excited,” Paden said. “The Palmer Park Mall is beautiful, and I’m excited to create another great spot for people of all ages to have fun.”
“Back to the Arcade has a great following and is very family friendly,” added Karla Saavedra, the mall's general manager. “I think it’s going to be a wonderful addition to the Palmer Park community.”
Initially, Back to the Arcade II guests can play around 30 arcade games, and this collection will grow to include several more machines in the coming months, Paden said.
To start, guests can play pinball machines such as Elvira, Venom, John Wck and Guns ‘N Roses, along with upright cabinet games such as Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Donkey Kong, Q*bert, Asteroids and Millipede.
There are also other games such as air hockey and Super Chexx bubble hockey.
At the South Mall location, guests can play more than 70 classic 1980s upright cabinet games like Burger Time, Donkey Kong, Double Dragon and Galaga.
There isalso a wide variety of other types of games, including air hockey, Skee-Ball, Super Chexx bubble hockey, immersive shooting games such as “Jurassic Park” and Big Buck HD Wild and claw machines where you can move a metal claw for a chance to win prizes.
Morethan a dozen pinball machines include classic selections such as Jaws, The Munsters and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, along with selections modeled after new pop culture favorites such as Stranger Things and The Mandalorian.
No quarters or tokens are needed to play the games.
Guests pay one price for all-day play. The cost is $20 for adults, $15 for ages 18 and under and $10 for veterans and ages 60 and older.
“When I designed the arcade, my goal was to offer something for everyone in every age group,” Paden said.
“So, we have a lot of retro games and pinball machines, and we also have some newer games as well. It's a beautiful sight when younger kids are playing the older games. It’s almost like they’re excited to step back in time.”
As is the case at the South Mall arcade, the new Palmer Park Mall arcade features brightly colored walls, black lights and television and film memorabilia, Paden said.
Originally, the arcade is occupying one Palmer Park Mall space, but Paden said he eventually plans to add a connection to an adjacent unit.
“You’re going to walk into the next room, and that’s going to be a place where you’re really going to go back in time,” Paden said. “It’s going to be wild.”
Paden said he is excited to expand his vision for family fun at the Palmer Park Mall.
Like the South Mall location, the new location also features a party area for hosting birthday parties and other private events, including bachelor parties, Boy Scout events and sports team celebrations, Paden said.
“It’s a business, but I don’t do it for the money,” said Paden. “I only charge $15 and $20 for people to have fun all day, and I donate a lot of the money to no-kill shelters and various charities.”
Uncle Juju’s Crazy Deals, a discount variety store offering deals on clothing, furniture, housewares and more, opened about three weeks ago at the mall.
Customers can shop a wide assortment of items, including home goods such as fans, computer desks, sheets and bedding, hairy dryers and curling irons, paper shredders, picture frames, water filtration pitchers and seasonal décor, at small fraction of their regular retail prices.
Other steeply discounted items include shoes, books, toys, art supplies, pet leashes and accessories, outdoor items such as tents and inflatable pools, automotive items such as car jump starters with air compressors, fashion accessories such as hats and apparel such as collared shirts, jeans and jackets.
Uncle Ju Ju’s is owned and operated by Daniel King, who also operates King’s Wholesales in Shippensburg, Saavedra said.
Aroma Authentic Indian Cuisine, offering Indian, Chinese and Pakistani specialties, opened in mid-October, co-owner Yasdeep Singh said.
The space previously housed The New Ranchito, a former restaurant offering Mexican and Puerto Rican dishes.
Singh is operating Aroma with his wife, Harsharan Kaur.
Customers can enjoy starters such as chicken and vegetable samosas, soups such as corn and manchow, breads such as garlic and butter naan and popular entrees such as chicken tikka masala, kadai chicken, goat curry, goat korma, lamb chops, saag lamb, fish pakora and tandoori shrimp.
Other menu highlights include biryani selections such as chicken, goat and lamb; karahi options such as chicken, goat and shrimp; South Indian dishes such as cheese dosa, onion chili dosa and pav bhaji; and Indo Chinese dishes such as hakka noodles, vegetable fried rice and gobi Manchurian with gravy.
All dishes are halal.
Aroma, with seating for approximately 90 guests, also offers a variety of gyros, burgers and desserts such as gulab jamun, malai kulfi and ice cream.
An all-you-can-eat buffet feast, $25 per person, is offered noon to 3 p.m. Friday through Monday.
Other recent additions, holiday happenings
The Palmer Park Mall also welcomed a few businesses in the spring.
Blue Flame Events, known for organizing festivals, vendor events and other functions throughout the Lehigh Valley and Poconos,in early April opened its first brick-and-mortar store– featuring items from more than 100 local crafters and small business owners.
Shoppers can browse a wide array of hand-crafted items, including home decor, children’s toys and fashion accessories such as jewelry and handbags.
The store also features selections from Blue Flame Events co-owners Timothy and Kimberly Stockers’ own business, Candleman Creations, such as all-natural soy candles, wax melts and bath and body products such as soaps, moisturizers and beard care products.
Another new addition is Santalexa & Fitness Love, offering hair care products and services, eyelashes and more, which opened in mid-March at the eastern end of the mall, near Boscov’s.
Shoppers can browse 100% human hair extensions and wigs, eyelashes, laminated eyebrows and hair care and weight loss products.
Santalexa is owned and operated by Santa Martinez, an entrepreneur who expanded her brand to include educational training in 2022.
Martinez educates women looking to acquire knowledge about hair extensions by teaching different techniques.
Santalexa offers high-quality, natural hair extensions and various hair vitamins, containing ingredients such as Morrocan oil, jojoba oil, camellia seed oil, aloe vera and Vitamins A, C, E and B5.
Other Santalexa items include a professional hair iron, electric comb with diamond handle and brush with pink diamond accents.
In addition to these most recent additions, businesses opening at the mall over the past couple of years include: Asante Art Gallery, showcasing a variety of African artwork; andHocca Bubble Tea, specializing in freshly prepared bubble tea and bubble waffles.
Additionally, Cloud City, which buys, sells and trades games, comics, toys and collectibles,moved in summer 2023 from its two-year-old location at the western end of the mall (near Decor Home Furniture & Mattresses) to a larger location at the eastern end of the mall (near Boscov's).
The mall also bid farewell to a few businesses over the past year.
American Eagle Outfitters, a popular clothing chain,closed its Palmer Park Mall store in January; Milford Furniture, selling a wide variety of household furnishings, closed its Palmer Park Mall store in March; and The Arcade Era, offering retro and modern arcade games, closed its Palmer Park Mall location in the summer, but it is continuing to operate a location at the Stroud Mall in Stroud Township.
The Palmer Park Mall has more than 40 tenants, and its sole remaining vacancy is the former American Eagle space, Saavedra said.
Upcoming holiday festivities at the mall include a Santa Parade and Small Business Saturday event, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 30, featuring Santa’s arrival, photo opportunities with Santa, holiday vendors throughout the hallways and “a zoo for you” mobile petting zoo, featuring a donkey, goat, tortoise, rabbits and other animals.
Additionally, a holiday pop-up market, featuring unique items from local crafters and vendors, will be held 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 7, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 8, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 14, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 15, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 21 and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 22.
More shopping destinations
Lehigh Valley Mall welcoming over a dozen new stores, restaurants
WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – The lineup at the Lehigh Valley's largest shopping mall is continuing to change with several new and coming-soon tenants, including Carter's/OshKosh B’gosh, As Seen On TV and two eateries.
The two-level mall, at MacArthur Road and Route 22 in Whitehall Township, is set to welcome four businesses – D’Colombia Restaurant & Bakery, Game Box Arcade, MINISO and Carter’s/OshKosh B’gosh – in the coming months.
The businesses will follow the recent openings of several other new Lehigh Valley Mall tenants, including As Seen on TV, Spice n Shake, Fit Leggy, Furniture & Linen, Golf Galaxy, Perfume Galaxy, Perfume City and Nai’s Tea, Coffee & Collectibles. Full story here.
1 eatery closes, another coming soon at Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The owners of a popular produce stand are bringing another delicious concept – featuring sourdough melts, fresh-cut fries and other tasty eats – to the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market.
The Market Grille, offering freshly prepared melt sandwiches, signature hot dogs, sides and more, is expected to open in early January at the 1825 W. Chew St. market, co-owner Bubba Swartley said.
The new eatery will be owned and operated by Swartley and his brother-in-law, Cori Citro. The pair also runs the neighboring Red Barn Family Produce stand at the market. Read more here.
1 tasty business opens, another coming soon at Quakertown Farmers Market
RICHLAND TWP., Pa. – Just in time for holiday shopping, new tenants – including restaurants offering soups, breakfast burritos, gluten-free dishes and Italian and Latin American specialties – are continuing to breathe new life into the Quakertown Farmers Market.
The Richland Township shopping venue, affectionately known as “Q-Mart” to locals, welcomed Bee & Butterly Cafe on Friday, Nov. 29.
The cafe held its soft launch – featuring a limited menu of coffee and specialty desserts – on Friday, and the business will hold its grand opening – featuring its full menu, drinks and specialty desserts – on Saturday. Read more.
Foodie finds
Lehigh Valley’s new breakfast and lunch spot mixing classic and creative eats
BANGOR, Pa. – A new restaurant in Northampton County is serving up traditional dishes such as French toast, omelets, reubens and club sandwiches alongside unique twists on pizza, hot dogs, smash burgers and loaded baked potatoes.
Breakfast on Broadway, a full-service restaurant offering made-to-order specialties for breakfast and lunch daily, held a soft opening on Monday at 15 Broadway in Bangor.
The restaurant, with seating for around 50 diners, occupies one of the ground floor spaces of the former Bangor Trust Co. building, which dates to the early 1900s. Full story here.
After 3-year hiatus, beloved Lehigh Valley cafe reopens at new location
EASTON, Pa. – A popular business known for its Aussie baked goods and other treats is welcoming back customers in Northampton County.
Tucker, an Australian café and provisions store that’s been in hibernation since late 2021, held a soft reopening on Nov. 23 at its new location, 125 Northampton St. in downtown Easton, co-owner Jason Hoy said.
Hoy and his wife, Melanie Hansche, debuted Tucker in 2017 at Easton's Simon Silk Mill before temporarily closing the business in December 2021 in preparation for its move to the larger downtown space. Read more here.
Greek restaurant in Northampton County to host grand opening with complimentary food
EASTON, Pa. – Ahead of a Greek restaurant’s debut at the former Johnny’s Gyros site in Bethlehem Township, the brand’s first Lehigh Valley location will celebrate its grand opening with discounts, free food and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Gyro Concept, offering authentic Greek cuisine, will host a grand opening celebration in coordination with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, at 323 Cattell St. in Easton’s College Hill neighborhood.
The Gyro Concept team will cut the ribbon with Easton Mayor Sal Panto at 5:30 p.m., and complimentary gyros and other menu items will be available to guests from 5 to 7 p.m., according to Savvas Priftis, who handles marketing and communications for Gyro Concept. Read more.
'Continued struggle': Allentown restaurant to close after business ‘dropped off a cliff,’ owner says
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – After several months of declining foot traffic, a well-known spot for burgers, mac and cheese and other tasty eats is set to end operations this weekend in Allentown.
Blended, a full-service restaurant offering hand-crafted food, cocktails and more, will hold its last day of business on Sunday at 27 N. Seventh St. in downtown Allentown, co-owner Gil DeGruccio said.
The restaurant is closing for a variety of reasons, with a primary one being a “steep decline in foot traffic that began in the spring,” DeGruccio said. Full story here.
Chain updates
Fast-casual restaurant chain continuing expansion with 2 more regional locations
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A global restaurant chain, serving up chicken wings, sandwiches, fries and more, is scheduled to land in south Bethlehem next week.
A new location of Wingstop, a fast-casual chain specializing in cooked-to-order classic and boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches, is set to open Dec. 2 at 614 E. Third St. on the city's South Side, according to Mike Axiotis, president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Restaurant Brands, a locally owned and operated Red Robin and Wingstop franchisee.
The new Wingstop location will operate on the ground floor of Six 10 Flats, a new five-story, mixed-use development – featuring more than 70 luxury apartments – on East Third Street between Buchanan and Pierce streets. Read more here.
Chipotle to open new Lehigh Valley eatery in early 2025
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A popular fast-casual restaurant chain known for its made-to-order tacos, burritos, quesadillas and other Mexican eats is expanding its footprint in the region.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, with more than 3,600 locations worldwide, is planning to open a new location in early 2025 at 2555 Easton Ave. in Bethlehem, according to Annie Gradinger, a spokesperson for the chain.
The new restaurant will occupy a renovated building that previously housed a Wells Fargo bank branch, next to a Taco Bell eatery. Read more.
Holiday happenings
Christmas tree farms kick off sales after rough growing season
BERKS COUNTY, Pa. – While some take to the stores on Black Friday, others head out shopping for a Christmas tree.
You know it's the start of the season when Christmas tree farms, quiet all year, turn into a flurry of activity.
"Busiest day of the year," says Denny Beck, owner of Beck Tree Farms in Richmond Township. "Ten years ago, it wasn't that way, but now everybody comes Black Friday." Full story here.
Wyckoff's colorful Christmas trees go on sale, bring visitors to Warren Co.
WHITE TWP., N.J. - In school, kids learn that trees are green. While that's almost always true, hundreds of colorful trees go up for sale this time of year, sending people flocking to western New Jersey.
Wyckoff's Christmas Tree Farm calls itself the Garden State's original colored tree farm.
"The farm is 280 acres," said John Wyckoff, an owner of Wyckoff's Christmas Tree Farm. "Seventy acres of it is dedicated to Christmas trees." Read more here.
'Like a dream job to me': Man behind Hotel Bethlehem's Christmas decorations speaks with 69 News
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - When you walk into historic Hotel Bethlehem the glamour of Christmas comes alive.
"I was inspired by the Gilded Age in Newport. The opulence of that era," said head designer Anthony Sierra.
Sierra and his design partner Ty Cundey brought that inspiration to this year's Christmas decorations at the iconic landmark. Read more.
Black Friday shoppers hit stores early at Lehigh Valley Mall
WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – Black Friday marks what has traditionally been the biggest shopping day of the year.
Even though it's now a week-long event for many retailers, it remains an early morning tradition for die hard shoppers.
"4 a.m."
"4:20 a.m."
"We left the house at 4:15," said early morning shoppers on when they awoke this Black Friday.
Blurry but bright-eyed for deals, shoppers were waiting as doors to Lehigh Valley Mall opened at 6 a.m. Full story here.
'It's our tradition': Black Friday shoppers flock to stores in Lehigh Valley, as holiday shopping season kicks off
The annual kick-off event to the holiday shopping season is officially in the books as thousands of shoppers head home with their discounted hauls.
The calm at Promenade Saucon Valley was coupled with more of a storm at the Lehigh Valley Mall.
"It used to be more of a mad house, and now, it's a little more chill, which is probably why we still do it," said Katie Swartley.
Customers point out how Black Friday shopping in 2024 doesn't look like it did decades ago. Read more here.
Holiday shopping season off to bumpy start at Berkshire Mall; parts of parking lot closed due to sinkholes
WYOMISSING, Pa. - The biggest shopping day of the year got off to a bumpy start at the Berkshire Mall.
Several sections of the mall's parking lot are now closed because of sinkholes, leaving limited spaces for parking.
But the safety concerns did not stop shoppers from grabbing Black Friday deals. It was still a day to "shop 'til you drop."
"Happy Black Friday!" shouted Scarlett Willett and her daughter Skyler. Read more.
