WHITEHALL, Pa. — By 11 a.m., about two dozen people were lining the walls next to the entrance of The Cheesecake Factory at the Lehigh Valley Mall.
Within minutes, the queue stretched to Hamsa Exoticz, blocking the entrance to the import curiosity store.
Inside the restaurant, countless employees buzzed about in the front and back of the house, carefully preparing each element of the experience for the incoming wave of eager customers.
Just under and behind a huge custom mural, chefs and kitchen workers were already deep into prep work, ready to prepare any of the 250-plus dishes The Cheesecake Factory has to offer. Over in the bakery, workers carefully set the display featuring dozens of delectable desserts which overwhelm the senses the second you step into the place.
Amanda and Makenzie Sukanick, who were at the head of the line inside the mall, had been eagerly awaiting the opening since they first heard word of it in the summer.
Asked what they were looking forward to most, Makenzie said, “Probably like the different cheesecake flavors and because we usually go to the one at King of Prussia, but now we can go to this one which is closer to our house. So that's probably what I'm most excited for.”
Karen and Glen Lewis were cautiously optimistic about their first visit to the Lehigh Valley location.
“I'm kind of interested to see if they'll have their act together as well as the one town usually we go to, King of Prussia,” Karen Lewis said.
As the doors opened at 11:30 a.m., people began flooding in as cheers from the staff could be heard in the mall’s court.
According to Senior Director of Public Relations for the Cheesecake Factory Alethea Roe, the dinner and dessert destination has been eagerly anticipated in the Lehigh Valley for years, and her excitement could barely be contained when the lease was inked earlier this year.
In particular, people were buzzing about the prospect of getting some Cheesecake Factory without having to endure a lengthy commute.
“I think while they love our King of Prussia location, no one wants to drive an hour or longer to dine with us. We're here to serve the locals, and I'm really excited about it,” Roe said.
Being as how the restaurant was opening its doors less than a week before Christmas, they were prepared to handle what could easily be one of the bigger eatery openings the area has seen in a while.
“Generally our mall locations are incredibly busy around the holidays anyway, but given that today's the 19th and it's our first day, so I'm sure we’ll be super busy into the new year,” Roe said.
Of course, the opening wouldn’t pan out very well without a well-trained staff, and as the location received more than 3,600 applications for the 270 open positions, it’s been quite the ride to prepare for day one.
Bakery Captain B’Faith Johnson has been working hard to get the bakery section’s fresh hires ready for the big day, and she felt confident that investment would pay off. Training her staff on the menu, food preparations, and all the little details is a daunting task.
But, “It's been really good. It's been amazing. They've been catching on to everything. They're excited to learn all the new items and desserts,” Johnson said.
“Come in, come and see the beautiful restaurant that's in Lehigh Valley. The staff members are excited. The bakery team is excited, the cashiers are super excited to get all the food out at a good pace,” Johnson said.
Host Kevin Lopez said the driving force to apply for his position was rooted in the information he found about the company, and his expectations were exceeded while training over the past few months.
"What didn’t attract me, is the question,” Lopez said with a laugh, commending the training he has received and the great work he has witnessed since starting. “Everything that I read about the company, it's been an amazing company, it has been an amazing experience working for two months, and it's been the greatest two months that I've worked with any company before.”
Not only has The Cheesecake Factory provided plenty of job opportunities for the Lehigh Valley, it’s also offering some much-needed financial contributions via a partnership with a philanthropic entity.
“So we always have one cheesecake on our menu that benefits Feeding America and the local food bank. So currently, it's our Cookie Dough Lovers Cheesecake with Pecans. Every slice we sell, we donate 25 cents to Feeding America and the local food bank, Second Harvest of Lehigh Valley here locally,” Roe said.
“And we've actually donated more than $6 million to Feeding America since 2008 through that 25 cents a slice donation, so it really adds up, and this year's flavor is delicious. So it's just one of the ways that we can give back locally.”
One of the things that people often forget is that The Cheesecake Factory is not a dessert-only destination, Roe said, pointing out their weekend brunch selection, all-day breakfast, and when you’re ready for something savory, salads, sandwiches, steaks, pasta, chicken dishes and more.
“We have it all, and it's all made right in that kitchen from scratch every day,” Roe said.
There’s also the bar, featuring a happy hour 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Roe noted there are specialty cocktails for $7.95, over a dozen signature appetizers, small plates, and snacks, in addition to just about any libation you could wish for, adding “it’s really a great deal.”
If you’re worried about waiting in a lengthy line, you can always score a reservation by joining the Cheesecake Rewards membership, a new program launched in June. Members can make online reservations, and they also get a free slice of cheesecake on their birthday, in addition to “other surprises throughout the year,” Roe said.
So if you happen to be swinging by the Lehigh Valley Mall for some last-minute Christmas shopping, maybe make that reservation in advance and give yourself a little break at The Cheesecake Factory.
“We’re expecting as many people as possible, and we’re just all smiles, all around,” Lopez said.
