In an October bankruptcy filing, the Ohio-based discount retailer identified 56 additional stores nationwide—including a store at 2631 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township—that would be closing as part of the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. However, the Whitehall store is no longer set to close.

Store employees were informed on Saturday that the Whitehall location would remain open, with no reason why. The Whitehall store, which has artificial Christmas trees, garland, stockings, and other holiday items displayed, is operating with regular hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. A Big Lots spokesperson did not immediately return a message seeking more information.

Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September, citing economic factors such as high inflation and interest rates that have affected its customers' purchasing behavior. As part of its Chapter 11 filing, the retailer announced that Los Angeles-based private equity firm Nexus Capital Management is acquiring "substantially all" of Big Lots' assets and ongoing business operations.

Big Lots is one of the nation's largest closeout retailers "focused on extreme value."They sell many items, including furniture, home décor, groceries, health and wellness products, pet accessories, and seasonal and holiday items. Big Lots makes sure to 'Live BIG and Save LOTS' according to the company description.

Over the past few months, Big Lots' number of planned store closures has grown from around 300 to more than 550. Prior to the large-scale closing announcements that started in the summer, Big Lots had more than 1,380 locations nationwide. Its current store count stands at 1,118!

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Uncle Aldo’s, offering Italian-style hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, and other freshly prepared eats, is expected to open in late December or January at 400 Broadway with owner Shannon Finnegan. Finnegan, a Lehigh Valley native who attended Freedom High School, is operating the restaurant with her mother, Lois Finnegan.

The pair signed a lease for the south Bethlehem space in August and have spent the past few months cleaning the interior and preparing for the restaurant’s debut. Other menu highlights will include gyros, burgers, steak sandwiches, and fresh-cut fries. Hours are still being finalized, but Uncle Aldo’s will likely serve lunch and dinner six days a week. Late-night hours, where staff serve food until around midnight, are also part of the working plan. Breakfast service is not planned initially, but the partners may introduce it down the line.

In addition to cleaning the space, the team is installing some new kitchen equipment. Existing furniture and an eating counter will remain. Uncle Aldo’s will follow Sam’s Restaurant, which operated at the former Pete’s site for about five months earlier this year. Run by father and son Carlos and Sam Rodriguez, Sam’s offered made-from-scratch American and Puerto Rican dishes.

Lehigh University graduate Yongkang Gao and his business partner, Bill Geddes, in spring 2023 purchased the south Bethlehem corner property along with an adjacent three-story building that is home to two residential units. The duo originally intended to open their own restaurant in the former Pete’s building, but a "change of plans" – sparked by the partners having a lot on their plates in terms of other business dealings – led them to seek another restaurant operator for the space. The Bethlehem property’s listing agent with Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty in Northampton.  Gao, who lives in the Bay Area of California where he works for Apple, owns several other residential properties on Bethlehem's South Side and was eager to purchase Pete’s and the residential building when he learned they were for sale. Geddes, who is known as "Executive Chef Billy G," has restaurant experience – including a hot dog truck – and was planning to oversee the new venture. The business became known for its stewed burgers and "Greekers" (Hatfield hot dogs with chili, mustard and onions). In recent years, the Mamounases' daughter, Effie Ramirez, ran Pete's day-to-day operations with help from her three sons.

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Angry Dumpling, a restaurant that specializes in handcrafted Chinese dumplings, is anticipated to open at 142 S. Main St. in Nazareth in late November or early December.

When McCarthy and her husband, Vasa Li, founded Angry Dumpling in 2020, they first made dumplings for home delivery in an Easton industrial kitchen. They also made appearances at Lehigh Valley breweries and other establishments. The restaurant in Nazareth will be Angry Dumpling's first physical site.

What made them stand out was how customers will be able to purchase a variety of frozen dumplings that they may boil or pan-fry at home in addition to dining in and taking out. 

The menu, which is still being finalized, will include a variety of seasonal flavors and classic dumpling variations. Chicken and ginger, pork and cabbage, and pork and onion are examples of traditional Chinese dumplings that are eaten with chili oil or vinegar dipping sauce. 

While seasonal options will change, previous choices have included fall vegan (pumpkin, tofu, rice noodles, and spices), lamb and carrot, butternut squash, jalapeño poppers, and "Heart Healthy" (ground turkey and vegetables). Along with American fusion dishes like Buffalo chicken, Philly cheesesteak, and Margherita pizza, Angry Dumpling has also served dessert dumplings, including apple pie, s'mores, and peach crisps. They will also provide fried rice and bubble tea in addition to their specialty of handcrafted Chinese dumplings.

Although the exact hours are still being decided, Li and McCarthy will let their eager customers know soon!

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A new Manhattan Bagel site at 402 W. Emaus Ave. in Allentown is "coming soon.

A Dunkin' restaurant used to be located there; however, it closed during the summer. According to a corporate description, Manhattan Bagel shops provide "a better breakfast," including freshly cracked eggs, sandwiches that are "hot off the grill," and bagels that are "chewy on the inside, crispy on the exterior" after being baked and boiled on-site.

Sandwiches can be personalized with a variety of add-ons and are prepared to order:

More than a dozen varieties of freshly made bagels are available to customers, including well-liked options like asiago, blueberry, cinnamon raisin, chocolate chip, everything, garlic, onion, pumpernickel, and poppy seed. They can be paired with spreads like garden veggie cream cheese, honey almond cream cheese, strawberry cream cheese, and whipped butter.

According to the company's website, Manhattan Bagel has more than 70 locations throughout Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. There are over a dozen regional locations in Bucks, Montgomery, and Warren counties, in addition to another location in Lehigh County on Tilghman Street in South Whitehall Township.

Founded in 1987, Manhattan Bagel is a part of Panera Brands, which includes Einstein Bros. Bagels, Caribou Coffee, and Panera Bread. Panera Brands is one of the biggest fast casual food corporations in the world.

Along with freshly made bagels, Manhattan Bagel also serves lunch options like the Greenwich Grilled Cheese, Manhattan Cheesesteak, SoHo Chicken Caesar Wrap, Chelsea Chicken Sandwich, Empire State Club, and Ellis Island Hot Pastrami, as well as breakfast sandwiches and wraps like the Smokehouse Brisket Egg Sandwich, Spinach Bacon Croissant, Omelet Wrap, and Nova Lox.

The new Manhattan Bagel site is still undergoing renovations, and the precise opening date is unknown.

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The manager of marketing and communications for Gyro Concept, Savvas Priftis, is anticipated to open its second site in the Lehigh Valley in late December at 2722 Easton Ave. in Bethlehem Township. 

The new Gyro Concept facility on a soon-to-be-renovated property will take the place of Johnny's Gyros, which shut down in late summer after operating for more than 30 years. It will complement a second Gyro Concept location in the Lehigh Valley that opened in March at 323 Cattell St. in the College Hill neighborhood of Easton.

The Gyro's being the most popular item on the menu, including falafel and vegan options. 

Gyro Concept’s plant-based offerings include sandwiches such as a vegan gyro (with plant-based protein, fresh tomato, fries, lettuce and red pepper hummus) and bowls such as a vegan kabob bowl (plant-based kabob on bed of rice with dolmas, huge beans and red pepper, drizzled with hummus). In Bethlehem Township, Gyro Concept will take over the soon-to-be renovated location of Johnny's Gyros, a family-run eatery renowned for its Greek fare.

The Easton Avenue property was put up for sale or lease in the summer.

Constructed in 1960, the standalone building has 20 inside seats with tables, chairs, and bar seats in addition to a drive-thru for takeaway service. Adjacent to the parking lot is an outdoor seating area as well. Johnny’s Gyros were up for sale with a price tag of $700,000, which included the business name, furnishings, fixtures, signage, and equipment, according to an internet listing. The lease was signed on Friday.

The owners and everyone involved in the creation of Gyro Concept can't wait to bring Greek food into the Lehigh Valley area!

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New Hope, which was founded in the 18th century and is regarded as one of America's greatest art towns, is drawing visitors of all ages and backgrounds because of its natural beauty, historic structures, galleries, museums, and specialized businesses.

New Hope is walkable, wooded, and situated on the Delaware River. Originally founded as Wells Ferry circa 1715, it was once the home of the Lenni-Lenape people. After some mills were restored after a fire in 1790, it was renamed New Hope.

The quaint borough now features renovated historic buildings, great restaurants, quaint B&Bs, eccentric art galleries and craft stores, and scenic river dining and lodging.

Among its most visited sights are the Bucks County Playhouse and the Parry Mansion, which is now a museum.

Bowman's Tavern, The Salt House, and Triumph Restaurant and Brewery offer excellent eating experiences.

This area is also home to the ancient Logan Inn, one of Pennsylvania's most haunted locations, where Revolutionary War troops have been seen in the corridors.

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The redevelopment authority is allocating $3.9 million in funds produced by the Parx Casino in Bensalem to a number of townships in Bucks County. 

The money will support numerous community development initiatives. Forty grants totaling roughly $4 million will be given to projects related to infrastructure, first responders, and health and human services.  

The Municipal Grant Programs has numerous initiatives to help the effects of gambling. In addition to addressing quality-of-life concerns, these projects will fund public safety, health, and infrastructure upgrades in communities affected by gaming. 

The region's Parx Casino has had a lot of success in 2023; in November alone, it brought in $537.7 million. 

With more than 300 slot machines, Parx Casino in Bensalem has the most in the state. It is also one of only two places in Pennsylvania that do not allow smoking. 

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Owner Thomas Boone announced that Board to Death Games, which will open at 338 Main St. in Emmaus at 11 a.m. on November 27 and provide a variety of tabletop board games, trading card games, and miniatures games, will be open.

The new store will be situated in the Emmaus triangle, close to Morty's Steaks. Boone is a self-described connoisseur, collector, and ardent fan of board games. Board to Death Games will offer over 100 board game and trading card game titles. Along with a selection of popular trading card games like Magic: The Gathering and Disney Lorcana, customers will be able to purchase both new and vintage board games like Monopoly and Sorry!.

Additionally, products pertaining to the well-known role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons and the miniature wargame Warhammer will be available. The Yahtzee dice game, the Root board game, and the Dominion card game are a few of Boone's particular favorites. Board to Death Games will offer over 100 board game and trading card game titles. A renovated venue with new wall paint, lighting, retail displays, and other improvements will house Board to Death Games.

Although Boone is still deciding on the shop's hours, he expects it to be open Wednesday through Sunday, with the majority of those days having provisional hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The owner is simply ecstatic about opening in Emmaus. It was his lifelong dream, and he is now living it!

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In late October, Jack's Beverage opened at 746 N. New St. in Bethlehem, offering a large selection of beers, hard ciders, hard seltzers, and other drinks. 

Romy Lodia owns Jack's, which offers over 100 types of beer, including well-known domestic brands like Budweiser, Coors Light, Miller Lite, Yuengling, Busch, and Blue Moon, as well as well-liked imports like Amstel Light, Corona, Dos Equis, Grolsch, Guinness, and Heineken.

The store offers beers from regional breweries like Hershey's Tröegs Independent Brewing and Downingtown's Victory Brewing Co., as well as craft breweries like Fegley's Brew Works and Funk Brewing Company in the Lehigh Valley. Improvements include new flooring, lighting, coolers, and counters. In addition to singles, six-packs, and cases of beer, the store has a walk-in cooler and an ice freezer.

You can also buy cigarettes, alcoholic slushies, and other convenience goods.

Jack's Beverage is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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Allie's Specialties, which specializes in French pastries and giant cookies and is well-known for its gourmet treats, should be ready to rock and roll at 31 Main St., Hellertown.

Allie's has locations in New York and other countries. Since relocating to the Lehigh Valley a few years ago, the company has collaborated with a large number of coffee shops and cafe-style sandwich enterprises. Another distinctive feature of the business is its same-day local delivery service.

Allie's Specialties first storefront in the Lehigh Valley will be at 31 Main Street, next to DiMaio's in the Shoppes at Hellertown. Allie's Specialties observed that the Hellertown community strongly aligns with the company's principles. They were founded more than 40 years ago and are a family-run enterprise. The family's grandparents spent their entire life creating all of the recipes for Allie's many culinary items. The recipes they employ are the same as they were years ago. If the weather permits, Hellertown will have both inside and outdoor seating. Coffee, tea, and a variety of other specialty drinks will be available, according to Lloyd. Regarding the delectable goodies, Lloyd mentioned that the complete menu will be available, but not all at once.

They are going to have a rotating menu. For every category, there will have a set menu, including stacked pastries like croissants, as well as cinnamon rolls, loaf cakes, pumpkin bread, banana breads, and cookies. Other, slightly more exclusive categories are also available, and we will occasionally introduce them. In a variety of ways, Allie's will seek to become part of the Hellertown neighborhood. They make it a priority to work with local ingredients from local businesses. 

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