After opening its first Starbucks cafe, Westgate Mall underwent a makeover, adding a second fast-casual restaurant to its lineup. In the months ahead, other well-known companies will open up shop at the mall.
At 2417 Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem, a new QDOBA Mexican Eats restaurant debuted on Monday. The fast-casual Mexican eatery franchise has around 750 locations across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
The restaurant, which has about fifty seats, is housed in an end unit of a recently built strip mall that was once the mall's interior. So Fresh and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, two other fast-casual food brands, are anticipated to occupy the building's two remaining units in the fall, according to Marjorie Kaplan, vice president of public relations at Axiom Communications, which is in charge of Westgate's communications.
A corporate description states that QDOBA specializes in freshly created, Mexican-inspired dishes that are "crafted with current tastes that guests want." "We take delight in producing meals in our kitchens every day, and we believe that the most exquisite flavors originate with great ingredients and meticulous preparation," the description says. "We do not take shortcuts when it comes to slicing crisp fruit, flame-grilling steak and chicken, or preparing handmade guacamole."
Highlights of the QDOBA menu include salads, nachos, tacos, bowls, quesadillas, and burritos. You have the option of selecting one of our classic recipes or using over 30 components to "make your own masterpiece." Proteins like brisket birria, grilled steak, grilled adobo chicken, seasoned ground beef, and slow-braised pulled pork are among the options. Rice and beans like brown rice, cilantro lime rice, black beans, and pinto beans are also available. Salsa and sauces like freshly made pico de gallo, roasted tomato salsa, chile corn salsa, citrus lime vinaigrette, salsa verde, and fiery habanero salsa are among the salsa and sauces. Tasty toppings like pickled jalapenos, Mexican street corn, cotija (crumbled white cheese), shredded lettuce, sour cream, cilantro, and crispy tortilla strips are also available.
In Denver, Colorado, QDOBA was first established in 1995 as Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill. In 1997, Z-TECA, QDOBA Mexican Grill, and QDOBA Mexican Eats were the new brand names.
Significant events in the company's history include the opening of its 600th store in 2011, its first overseas location in Canada in 2012, the relocation of its headquarters from Denver to San Diego in 2016, the addition of Impossible plant-based protein to the menu in 2019, and the introduction of 100% recyclable, strawless lids and compostable bowls in 2021.
A statement on the company website states, "We commemorate the communities we proudly serve by conducting fundraisers in over 700 local QDOBA restaurants." Additionally, we honor first responders by giving front-line staff QDOBA meals. Our collaborations with No Kid Hungry in the US and Toonies for Tummies in Canada have helped fight childhood food insecurity by raising money and giving more than 5 million meals to kids.
The Integritty Group, a restaurant management and development company with founders Jiger Patel, Pranav Desai, and Raj Mahadevia, operates the QDOBA location in Bethlehem. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Along with other restaurant brands like Dave's Hot Chicken, The Greene Turtle, and Checkers, the corporation has more than 35 QDOBA locations in five states. The Integritty Group operates the first QDOBA site in the Lehigh Valley, which debuted in 2012 on MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township. "We are thrilled to be in Bethlehem, and the community has been incredibly helpful," stated Poonam Patel, the business development manager of The Integritty Group.
"We ran a campaign early in the morning, and there was a queue outside Starbucks before we even opened. The first 100 people in line received free burritos or bowls for a year. At 8:30 a.m., the first visitors arrived, and by 11:45 a.m., we had 100 individuals through the door. Thus, for a year, everyone of those visitors will be able to indulge in a burrito or bowl of their choice each month.
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