Small Business News

The International Cultural Festival will he held at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22.

Cut the Scrap! opened in June on North 19th Street in the West End of Allentown. Crafters can trade in secondhand art supplies, shop for goods or take an art class.

Mad Catter Coffee Roasters celebrated its grand opening at the Allentown Economic Development Corporation’s Bridgeworks Enterprise Center.

Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 in Forks Township celebrated the grand opening of Colonial Cafe 71, a coffee shop which helps teach employment and life skills.

The Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market officially added The Brass Rail to its list of merchants Thursday morning — the first time the eatery has been in operation since it shuttered on Lehigh Street in June 2022.

The North Street spot has been known locally for its affordable, yet classic, early morning and lunchtime eats, including pork rolls, pancakes, cheesesteaks and more. The news of the sale comes after 41 years of business.

Even though independent, family-owned hardware stores may seem harder to come by in the days of Aces and Home Depots, Center City has had a homegrown, “personal service store” down on the corner for decades.

It might feel early, but some local farms are gearing up to begin their fall festivities. Most pumpkin patches, corn mazes and hay rides open to the public this month. Find out when.

Four years into his massage therapy career, Jared Skinner set out to master a relatively "new" technique to the practice — rolfing. It's a 10-step practice on a weekly basis that aims to relieve the body naturally of pain for upwards of five to 10 years. Only 2,000 body workers professionally practice it worldwide.

Lana's Comforting Pawsibilities offers training for pets in the Lehigh Valley via positive reinforcement, saving owners of cats and dogs alike from having to give up their precious furry friends.

Fisk Camera Shop at 2115 Birch St. in Wilson opened in the mid-1920s and has been stewarded by three generations of the Fisk family. Its run ends this Friday.

The owners of a childcare center looking into expanding the operation received a special exception from Allentown's zoning hearing board Monday evening, though in the end, that exception was not even necessary.

A few authors have brought books into Moravian Book Shop with AI-generated covers or art. That was enough for the staff to formally announce online that the bookstore would not support the use of technology that may replace creative jobs.

To CEO Russell Fletcher, starting out as a small hyper-local business gave Mishka Premium Vodka a leg up to evolve at the rate it is right now. Soon, the vodka, which is distilled in Allentown, will be carried by yet another national chain.

Northampton County's Return on Environment report won't come out until the fall, but early findings support the notion that local open spaces provide financial and health benefits for residents.

After 13 years on the brewpub scene, Two Rivers Brewing Company will shutter the doors on its Easton location this Aug. 17.

Latina leaders and entrepreneurs discussed their personal and professional challenges at the annual PA Latina Women Conference, held at the Univest Public Media Center.

The store carries Christian apparell designed in-house, plus athletic wear from Nike and Polo by Ralph Lauren. It's at 708 East Fourth Street.

Ending months of BYOB, which patrons have come to like, the former Nonna Sulina's has moved to Fountain Hill under a new name and can finally announce full-service status.

The Dubai chocolate trend was in the Lehigh Valley years before it went viral online. But recently, the trend has recirculated online and brought about new inspiration at local businesses.

BEDCO Executive Director Sean Ziller said, "We’re thrilled to receive these funds, which will directly benefit our small businesses in ways that put their needs at the center.”

The quaint shop on North New Street sells stones from South America, Mexico and the Middle East, as well as locally themed artwork.