Blended, a full-service restaurant featuring handcrafted meals, beverages, and more, has had its last day of business at 27 N. Seventh St. in downtown Allentown.
A "steep fall in foot traffic that began in the spring" is a key reason for the restaurant's closure. The business started out great in the first half of the year, but then drastically decreased during the late spring/early summer months. Unfortunately, the lease is up at the end of the year, and business hasn't been the best.
The owner, DeGruccio, also mentioned the country's broader economic condition and fewer events happening in downtown Allentown as factors for the restaurant's closing.
He claimed to have noticed a decrease in foot traffic, particularly during the evening hours, since the Downtown Allentown Market implemented shorter hours on April 1.
DeGruccio added that he originally served as the restaurant’s executive chef before he and his partner, Eric Cutting, took over operations in 2022.
Blended’s menu features a diverse selection of made-to-order dishes, including snacks and shareables such as traditional and boneless wings, cheesesteak empanadas and truffle parm fries; cast-iron mac and cheeses such as broccoli cheddar and Buffalo chicken; and burgers and handhelds such as the “McBrayer’s Cowboy” burger (8-ounce Angus patty, shredded lettuce, jalapenos, cheddar cheese, candied bacon, bourbon BBQ sauce, and onion rings on a brioche roll) and a Cali salmon cheesesteak wrap. Popular items include the burgers, classic mac and cheese, Brussels sprouts and Buffalo cauliflower bites, DeGruccio added.
Additionally, the restaurant offers a wide variety of craft beers.
DeGruccio intends to join the management team at Brü Daddy's, located at 732 Hamilton St., after Blended closes. The owner plans to continue presenting Blended's weekly activities, which included bingo, karaoke, and trivia at Brü Daddy's.
The owner wants everyone to know that he will be at Bru Daddy, along with many of the previous staff members. On its last weekend, Blended will be open as usual from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday and from noon to midnight (or later, depending on the audience). On Sunday, there will be offers on food and beverages.
They feel fortunate to have some of the best clients and employees in Center City Allentown, if not the entire Lehigh Valley. Without them, we could not have progressed this far. Queen City BBQ and Shula's Steak House, among other eateries, previously occupied the ArtsWalk location of Blended. After Blended closes, DeGruccio is uncertain about what will happen to the corner location. Jeff Vaughan, a spokesperson for City Center, said the building's owner, City Center Investment Corp., is in negotiations with a potential tenant who wants to use the space.
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