ALLENTOWN, Pa. - One of the creative minds behind a popular dining establishment in downtown Allentown is planning another tasty venture a few blocks away.
Jesse Haik, a co-owner of the 2.5-year-old Pennsylvania Rye Company at 536 Hamilton St., is planning to open Simpatico - a modern Italian restaurant - in May at 27 N. Seventh St.
Simpatico will occupy an updated ArtsWalk space that previously housed other dining establishments, including Shula's Steak House, Queen City BBQ and, most recently, Blended, on the ground floor of the Strata West apartment complex.
Haik, a New Orleans native, has been working in the restaurant industry since he was 15 years old.
He's opened and managed restaurants in five states, with former gigs including beverage manager at The Dime restaurant at The Renaissance Allentown Hotel and general manager of the Liberty House in Jersey City, N.J.
Haik has wanted to open an Italian concept for many years, and he finally decided to take the leap after noticing the positive reception of freshly prepared pasta dishes at PA Rye Company.
"It's going to be a modern Italian concept focused on fresh pasta and fresh dough for pizza and focaccia," Haik said.
"Everyone at PA Rye responds so well to the fresh pasta. So, we're going to try to piggy-back on that success and build on it. We also will do some pasta classes down the line."
Haik and his friend, Dan Gonzalez, opened Pennsylvania Rye Company in 2022 in a renovated Hamilton Street space that was previously home to Grain and Federal Grill restaurants.
Pennsylvania Rye Company operates on Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown.
The full-service PA Rye Company offers fresh and creative cuisine made from scratch, classic and signature craft cocktails and an extensive collection of rye whiskey.
Simpatico, featuring indoor and outdoor dining, catering/private event space and a rectangular full bar with one side opening to the ArtsWalk, will showcase local fare, fresh pasta, brick oven pizza and innovative small and large plates.
Diners will be able to choose from a diverse menu of hand-crafted appetizers, handhelds, entrees and desserts.
"The pasta will be made on-site, and it will be available to order as an entree or as a small plate," Haik said. "We'll have a solid amount of pastas, between six and 10, including some classics and some rotating seasonal options."
Haik is still finalizing the menu, but he envisions a mix of modern and traditional Italian-style dishes, including short rib, pork chop, branzino and a premium steak with fresh accoutrements.
"We buy local pigs in New Jersey that we use to make pork chops at Pennsylvania Rye Company, and we’re hoping to expand on that by also purchasing local beef," Haik said.
Two sandwich highlights will include muffuletta and porchetta, Haik said.
Muffuletta, a classic New Orleans sandwich, is a nod to Haik's roots.
"It’s an insane sandwich that’s made with mortadella on a big sesame roll with giardiniera, which is pickled onions, carrots and other vegetables, and a little swipe of mustard and olive oil," Haik said in reference to the muffuletta.
"It’s the best sandwich that’s served cold. On the flip side, we’re also going to make porchetta for the entree menu and the sandwich menu. With porchetta, you take either a pork belly or pork shoulder and butterfly it out to where it’s open. The recipe that we’re going to use is a mix of sourdough bread with fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil and some different spices. We’ll spread it all over the one side, roll it back up and tie it into a big cylinder and then roast it in the oven for like 10 hours so it's super tender and packed with a lot of flavor."
The culinary team would cut an approximately 10-ounce piece of the porchetta for the entree and a roughly 4-ounce piece for the sandwich, Haik said.
Simpatico also will feature a full bar with a focus on craft cocktails and international wines, including several Italian and French wines, Haik said.
"Italy has a lot of components that contribute to some really cool cocktails, and I’m looking forward to exploring the subtleties of certain items, like different amaros and vermouths," Haik said.
Haik has already started renovations on the roughly 10,000-square-foot space, with updated wainscoting, light fixtures and other cosmetic touches in the dining room.
He plans to add new wall paint, furniture, curtains in the Seventh Street windows and a large planter box between the bar area and dining room.
He's also repositioning some of the furniture and changing the restaurant's flow. The updated space will be "brighter and less cavernous," Haik said.
"Currently, the bar connects to the outside, and you can see from the exterior all the way to the back," Haik said.
"It just feels cavernous. So, we removed the tables between the dining room and bar, and we built a planter box that’ll match the wainscoting that spans the whole length. We'll add tables to the back side of that and on the front side near the bar. There will be snake plants in the box, creating some division between the dining and the bar and breaking up some of the noise."
Simpatico means "of a like mind" or "in agreement with," and Haik chose it as the name of his new restaurant because it's also a slang term - used frequently in Italian and Italian-American cultures - to describe someone who is friendly or likeable.
Haik's wife, who is part Italian, assisted him in choosing the name, which helps convey one of the restaurant's main pillars: inclusivity.
"I knew that I wanted to open an Italian restaurant, but I also knew that I wanted it to be kid-friendly and inclusive," Haik said.
"I want anyone and everyone to feel comfortable, and I also want it to feel sophisticated at the same time. So, that's why I liked the name, Simpatico, because it represents people of a like mind and bringing people together."
Simpatico will operate in an updated space at the corner of Seventh Street and the ArtsWalk.
Most recently, the space was home to Blended, a full-service restaurant offering hand-crafted food, cocktails and more, which closed in the fall.
“We are excited to have a successful restaurant owner-operator opening an Italian restaurant and bar in downtown Allentown,” said Jill Wheeler, vice president of City Center Group, which owns the property.
“His other concept, PA Rye Company, has been well-received and is thriving. We look forward to seeing the menu for Simpatico and enjoying a cocktail there at the bar on the ArtsWalk.”
More foodie finds
'From the heart': Lehigh Valley's new family-run restaurant serving up tasty soul food
EASTON, Pa. - Foodies are flocking to a new destination for candied yams, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles and other Southern favorites in Northampton County.
Radical Rations featuring Madam Mac, a take-out eatery offering made-from-scratch soul food including fried chicken, collard greens with smoked turkey and rotating varieties of mac and cheese, held a grand opening March 22 at 1213 Washington St. in Easton.
Owner and chef Dawn Bryant, a New York native who had been operating Radical Rations as a mobile business in Florida for the past 12 years, recently moved to Easton to be closer to family, including her daughter Danielle Moore, who is helping her run the business. Full story here.
Radical Rations featuring Madam Mac owner Dawn Bryant (left) poses with her daughter, Danielle Moore, inside her new take-out eatery at 1213 Washington St. in Easton.
'We're so thankful': Popular Indian restaurant opens 2nd Lehigh Valley location
NORTHAMPTON, Pa. - A go-to destination for garlic naan, shrimp biryani, chicken tikka masala and other Indian specialties in the Allentown area has expanded its local footprint.
Cumin N Eat, offering authentic Indian cuisine at 3333 Hamilton Blvd. in South Whitehall Township, on March 20 opened its second Lehigh Valley location at 2418 Cherryville Road in Northampton.
"We love what we do, and we wanted to expand in the Lehigh Valley," co-owner Aparna Bharath told 69 News.
"We also thought this would be a good location to grow. Northampton is a very warm place, and everyone has been very welcoming." Read more here.
‘Super thankful’: Popular restaurant finds new home in Allentown
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - A family-owned and -operated dining establishment has returned to its roots in Lehigh County.
Birriaholic, a Latin fusion restaurant specializing in birria tacos, on March 22 reopened at its new location at 545 Cleveland St. in Allentown.
The business debuted in 2021 at a former location at 343 Hamilton St. in downtown Allentown before moving to another now-closed location 81 W. Broad St. in downtown Bethlehem in early 2023.
Increasing operational expenses at the former Bethlehem spot led the owners to close that location in late 2024 and seek a new location in Allentown, co-owner Shayna Mora said. Read more.
Birriaholic operates at 545 Cleveland St. in Allentown.
'The largest restaurant in the Lehigh Valley': Variety of food options cover all bases at Coca-Cola Park on IronPigs opening night
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Fans at Coca-Cola Park dodged the raindrops and took in Opening Day for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
If you're not the biggest baseball fan, there are other reasons to come. It's a great family experience. Maybe watching the post-game fireworks, or maybe it's the food. There are options for anybody.
There is something for everyone in your family's batting order.
As the IronPigs warm up for the new season, the food staff at Coca-Cola Park is warming up the grill. There are ballpark classics like popcorn and peanuts, but there are also plenty of gourmet entrees, many featuring IronPigs Staples like bacon and pork. Full story here.
Bar and lounge, coffee shop and Mexican eatery announced for Marquis complex in Easton
EASTON, Pa. - A trio of food and beverage options are coming soon to the ground floor of a newly constructed apartment complex in downtown Easton.
Amigos, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant with a location in downtown Allentown; ZEN, a new bar and lounge concept from the owners of Amigos; and The Joint Coffee Co., a coffee shop with two existing Lehigh Valley locations, will all open this summer on the ground floor of The Marquis, which will welcome its first residents in May, according to a news release.
City Center Residential, the property management company behind several apartment complexes in downtown Allentown, is spearheading The Marquis development, its first apartment community outside of Easton. Read more here.
Expanding chains
Papa Johns franchisee continuing to expand chain's footprint with new Lehigh Valley location
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Fans of Papa Johns pizza, chicken wings, Papadias and other menu staples will soon have a new spot to frequent in Northampton County.
The pizza shop chain’s newest Lehigh Valley location is expected to open in late April at 1401 Easton Ave. in Bethlehem, franchisee Hany Sorial said.
The property was previously a medical building, and renovations are currently underway to bring the new Papa Johns location to fruition, Sorial said.
Papa Johns, which originated in 1984 with the goal of offering “better ingredients, better pizza,” has approximately 6,000 locations in 51 countries and territories. Read more.
A new Papa Johns location is coming soon to Easton Avenue in Bethlehem.
Hot chicken restaurant set to open next month near Quakertown
RICHLAND TWP., Pa – A rapidly expanding restaurant chain will soon heat up the upper Bucks County dining scene.
A location of Dave’s Hot Chicken, a fast-casual chain specializing in jumbo hot chicken tenders and sliders, will hold a grand opening on April 18 at 218 N. West End Blvd. in Richland Township, according to an announcement on the business' website.
The Quakertown area eatery will occupy a renovated Trainer's Corner space that previously housed a MOD Pizza location, which closed last spring.
It will be operated by The Integritty Group, which also runs Dave’s Hot Chicken locations on Park Avenue in Willow Grove and Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia. The Integritty Group also opened another Dave's Hot Chicken location on Friday, March 28, on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. Full story here.
Popular shopping destinations
Fashion retailer opening this weekend, 5 other tenants coming soon at Promenade Saucon Valley
U. SAUCON TWP., Pa. - Just in time for prom season, a business offering elegant, eye-catching dresses and other fashions is opening this weekend at Promenade Saucon Valley.
Dolly’s Dressing Room, offering a stylish, trend-driven selection of prom dresses, wedding apparel and more, will hold a soft opening on Saturday, March 29, in Suite 103, the shopping center announced.
The new store will occupy the former Sweet Diehl Boutique space, next to L.L. Bean.
Dolly's also operates locations on Freemansburg Avenue in Wilson and Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown. Read more here.
Another clothing retailer opening new store at Lehigh Valley Mall
WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. - After welcoming nearly a dozen retailers in recent months, the Lehigh Valley Mall's tenant mix continues to change with a popular fashion chain's new location.
Carter’s, Inc., a leading apparel company for babies and young children, on Thursday opened a new retail location on the mall's upper level in Whitehall Township, according to a news release.
The 3,200 square-foot store features a wide assortment of "on-trend, affordable baby and children’s clothing for preemie to size 14, gifts and accessories" from Carter’s house of brands, including Carter’s, OshKosh B’gosh, Little Planet, and Skip Hop, the release states.
Carter’s is known for delivering stylish apparel with comfort and value at its core, making it the most trusted kids brand for seven generations of parents. Read more.
Bethlehem area buzz
New Orleans-inspired sweet spot serving up local ice cream, beignets and more in Bethlehem
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A new Lehigh Valley business aims to bring a "Mardi Gras celebration for your taste buds."
Sweet Revenge, bringing the vibrant charm and rich flavors of New Orleans to life through handcrafted indulgences, opened March 3 on the lower level of The Outlets at Wind Creek Bethlehem, manager Justin Pradel said.
The new shop replaces Carlo’s Bake Shop, a chain of bakeries fronted by celebrity baker Buddy “Cake Boss” Valastro, closed its only Lehigh Valley location in June at The Outlets at Wind Creek Bethlehem.
Sweet Revenge customers can enjoy a wide array of made-on-site baked goods, including beignets, buttered croissants, blueberry and banana nut muffins, cannolis, cinnamon rolls, cheesecake, chocolate chip and snickerdoodle cookies, Reese's peanut butter brownies and various fruit-filled pastries. Full story here.
Northampton County brewery closing original location, planning to reopen at new spot
L. SAUCON TWP., Pa. - A destination for locally brewed lagers, IPAs and other beers is making moves in the Lehigh Valley.
Hop Hill Brewing Company, a craft brewery and taproom serving up a wide range of artisan ales, stouts and other beers, will cease operations at its original location at 1988 Blair Ave. in Lower Saucon Township within the next few weeks, owner Greg Smith said.
Hop Hill will continue welcoming guests to its Lower Saucon location until April 19.
New taproom hours are 3-10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.
"The landlord at our current location decided to go in a different direction and has other plans for the space," Smith told 69 News. Read more here.
Top Lehigh Valley chefs teaming up for 7-course dinner to help fight childhood hunger
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Nearly two dozen first-rate chefs from some of the Lehigh Valley’s most popular restaurants are joining forces to present a multi-course dinner to raise funds for an important cause.
A seven-course dinner with wine pairings to benefit Chefs Cycle for No Kid Hungry will be held 5 p.m. April 28 at Mister Lee’s Noodles in south Bethlehem.
Participating chefs include Mike George (Mister Lee's Noodles), Nero Chavez (Mister Lee's Noodles), Christopher Heath (Paxos Restaurants), Courtney Davenport (The Shelby), Cristian Gonzalez (The Shelby), Jacob Watson (Grille 3501), Mick Gjevukaj (Albanesi), Josh Palmer (Sette Luna), John McCain (Alibi), Luke Prosseda (Something Different), Mike Pichetto (3rd & Ferry Fish Market), Shawn Doyle (Savory Grill), Amy Palmer (Bolete), Katie Gaffney (The Modern Crumb), Zeke Zelker (Zekraft), Tyler Baxter (Nowa), Alice Schneck (Apollo Grill), Abe Lopez (Stoke) and Lee Chizmar (Bolete).
Guests also will enjoy wine pairings by Bill Binczak of South Italy Imports and some of the Lehigh Valley's top sommeliers and restaurant professionals, including Karen Shelby (Thyme), Danya Kinsman (3rd & Ferry), Brad Schultz (Lehigh Country Club), Shannon Stratton (Grille 3501), Byron Coons (White Orchids Thai Cuisine), Robert van Thiel (Nowa), Tonia Chahine-Lynn (South Italy Imports) and Stephen Pekarik (Bolete). Read more.
Mister Lee's Noodles operates on East Third Street in Bethlehem.
Tacofest, featuring Margarita Madness and Chihuahua Beauty Contest, returns to SteelStacks this June
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Tacofest is coming back to ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks this June.
Tacofest, in partnership with Cazadores Tequila, will take place on June 1 from 1 to 6 p.m., according to a news release from ArtsQuest.
The festival will feature tacos from the Lehigh Valley and beyond, drinks, live music, the SteelStacks Chihuahua Beauty Contest, and more, ArtsQuest says. Full story here.
Berks County news
EXETER TWP., Pa. — A new bed-and-breakfast could be coming to Exeter Township.
The township supervisors on Monday night authorized the advertisement for a public hearing for a proposed conditional use of the Stonersville Hotel as a B&B.
The hotel on Boyertown Pike in Exeter is closed, but it may soon reopen as the Stonersville Hotel Bed and Breakfast. Read more here.
Casual-American restaurant chain closes only Berks location
WYOMISSING, Pa. — The only Berks County location of a well-known restaurant chain has ended operations.
Ruby Tuesday, the casual, full-service chain known for its "simple fresh American dining," closed its location at 1665 State Hill Rd. in Wyomissing earlier this week.
The full-service dining establishment operated for decades at the Berkshire Mall.
A sign on the restaurant's doors thanks customers for their patronage and encourages them to visit nearby Ruby Tuesday locations on Route 61 in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, and Quentin Road in North Cornwall Township, Lebanon County. Read more.
Closing notes
Retail chain's only Lehigh Valley location permanently closes
HANOVER TWP., Pa. – The only Lehigh Valley location of a national retailer – known for its products made from plant-based ingredients – has ended operations.
A location of Buff City Soap, a company offering “delightfully scented,” plant-based soaps that are handmade daily in stores, permanently closed about two weeks ago at 942 Airport Center Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.
A sign posted on the storefront window encourages customers to visit a nearby Buff City Soap location in Dickson City, Lackawanna County.
It’s unclear what led to the Hanover Township store’s closure. A company representative did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Full story here.
A Buff City Soap store has closed in the Airport Center in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.
'This used to be my home': Historic Alburtis Tavern closed and condemned, listed for sale
ALBURTIS, Pa. — A 125-year-old building and tavern in Lehigh County is now closed and condemned.
The historic Alburtis Tavern has been standing since 1875, but now has a bright yellow condemned sign on the front door. Throughout the day Tuesday we watched as tenants moved their things out, like Cassie Whittman who also worked as a cook at the Tavern.
"I was a worker here, I lived here, this used to be my home. Now I've literally got to move out," said Whittman.
Whittman said she only found out on Monday she had to uproot her whole life. Read more here.
