Small Business News

Love's Restaurant and Lounge was designed to bring something entirely new to the Lehigh Valley — a former diner revamped and built up out of passion.

After 36 years of business, what owner Richard Samar calls "the last original downtown business" is set to close at the end of the month. A coffee shop will take its place.

By a 3-1 vote, the Bethlehem Planning Commission approved on Thursday night a project for a 517-space, 64-feet-high, nearly 200,000-square-foot Walnut Street parking garage to replace the old one currently being demolished. The structure is expected to open sometime in 2025.

The Lehigh Valley continues to be among the nation's leaders in economic development, it was revealed at the Lehigh Valley Real Estate Development Outlook event on Tuesday in Allentown.

The former president is holding a campaign rally Saturday at Schnecksville Fire Company — the same day nearby Shankweiler's Drive-In had planned its anniversary celebration. With road closures imminent, operators of the nation's oldest operating drive-in adjusted plans.

Ashley Pizarro harnessed her love of beauty in the creation of her business, Lovelyy Faces Spa Lounge & Master Academy, an esthetic salon that opened in 2021 at 813 Linden St.

Megan Campbell and her son Finley have just released their first storybook, "Home is Where the Heart is," which features some of the young man's favorite spots in Easton.

The Canalside Cup has been a community staple for classic drive-up fare, including burgers and soft serve, for 20 years. It reopened for the season this week.

To thrive in an oversaturated market, business owners say providing an experience is key — and it's what their newer clientele keep asking for.

Take a look at stories throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at a Wawa DriveThru in Lower Macungie Township on Thursday morning. The drive-thru is the second such Wawa store in the nation, the other located in Lower Bucks County.

A proposed smoke shop in Easton's South Side received a recommendation for a special exception at Wednesday's meeting, though approval from the zoning hearing board is still required.

Nowhere Coffee Co. co-owners Juan and Lauren Vargas will open their planned roastery in the Allentown area after a permit denial in Upper Macungie.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Nowhere Coffee Co. co-owners Juan and Lauren Vargas spoke at the Upper Macungie Township supervisors meeting Thursday about their frustration over what they said was a system not set up for small business owners.

Porters' Pub, a beloved bar which served as a launching point for the revitalization of Easton, has been passed on to a local couple with a strong connection to the community.

Nonprofit groups are allowed to apply for $10,000 to $50,000 in funding. But the applicant doesn't necessarily have to be a nonprofit, it just needs to serve the city, officials said.

Fastnacht Day might be Feb. 13, but don't tell that to the customers at Mary Ann Donut Kitchen. They came for the donuts early Thursday, and they'll be sold through Feb. 25.

The popular bookstore Let's Play Books is reaching out to the community to hear what shape they think their store should take, following the success of their new location

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Early education advocates say there has been a slow erosion of the number of programs, workers and classroom slots in the Lehigh Valley, and across Pennsylvania, since federal funding expired last year.

Lauren and Juan Vargas, the owners of Nowhere Coffee Co., played host to President Biden as he swept through Emmaus to visit with local business owners Friday.