BETHLEHEM, Pa – Starting next year, the spotlight will shine on mouthwatering cakes, quiches, croquettes and other French-inspired treats at the same spot where big-name Hollywood stars previously lit up a movie screen in downtown Bethlehem.
Paris Baguette, a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units worldwide, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2025 at 30 W. Broad St. in downtown Bethlehem, franchise owner Lan Ma said.
The chain’s first Lehigh Valley location will occupy a nearly 4,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of the six-story Boyd mixed-use complex, nearing completion at the site of the former Boyd move theater.
The once-prominent theater shuttered in 2011 following weather damage, and neighboring storefronts were condemned in 2015 due to additional structural deterioration.
The property sat empty for about a decade before it was demolished in early 2022.
The new complex will feature 205 apartments – a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, available in more than a dozen layouts – with the first residential tenants expected to move in starting in the fall.
Ma, a single mother of four who lives in Hellertown, fell in love with Paris Baguette more than 15 years ago. She and her two oldest children would regularly visit the Paris Baguette location in Edison, N.J. for birthday cakes as well as everyday treats.
“Paris Baguette has always been our happy place,” Ma said.
“The variety and quality of pastries and baked goods along with the bakery’s atmosphere are things we just couldn’t find anywhere in the Lehigh Valley. The whole concept is just so inviting.”
A longtime project manager for an IT company, Ma has worked from home since 2004.
The work arrangement proved wonderful for raising her children as she was readily available to them. The downside was she never felt part of a community due to her isolation at home.
“It never bothered me because my children are my priority, but as far as community goes, I didn’t really have one – ‘the village’ that many people call it,” Ma said.
After moving to Hellertown in August 2022, Ma stumbled upon a local outdoor women’s group, Lehigh Valley Women of Adventure, which empowers women through outdoor adventure.
Joining that organization changed her life for the better and also led her to pursue opening a Paris Baguette location, she said.
“I never considered myself an outdoor person, but now I spend way more time outdoors,” Ma said.
“I’ve also introduced the parks and recreational facilities in the Lehigh Valley to my two younger children, and I ran a half marathon in September 2023. These are all experiences that I thought I would never have in my life. I saw the contributions that this group is making in women’s lives, and so I approached the founder and became a board member. I’m very invested in the organization’s mission and activities, and for the very first time, I truly felt like I have a community. This sense of community – being part of something wonderful and also contributing to it – is what set off the light bulb in my head. Maybe I could recreate that ‘happy place’ of Paris Baguette for more people right here in my neighborhood.”
‘Fall’ Into Flavor with Paris Baguette’s new seasonal menu featuring pumpkin and maple delights
Paris Baguette, which originated in South Korea in 1988, opened its first U.S. location in 2005.
Its U.S. footprint has since grown to more than 160 locations, and the company has a goal to open 1,000 Paris Baguette locations across the country by 2030.
Ma is excited to open the Lehigh Valley’s first Paris Baguette in Bethlehem, a city that she labels “larger than life.”
She cited the city’s beloved Christmas attractions, the recent designation of Bethlehem’s Moravian Church Settlements as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Hotel Bethlehem’s fourth consecutive first-place finish in USA Today’s 10 best historic hotels contest as examples of the city’s excellence.
“Bethlehem is amazing in so many ways – the history, the people, the activities, everything,” Ma said.
“Our family has never officially lived in Bethlehem, but whenever anyone asks my oldest daughter where she is from, she always says Bethlehem because she attended Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts. She and all of us just absolutely love the city, and now that we get to be a part of its history with opening this business, it’s beyond anything I could have ever asked for. I’m so excited that I’ll get to raise my two youngest children in this environment, and I can only give thanks to God for this gift.”
At Paris Baguette, customers can choose from a wide array of freshly prepared cakes, including blueberry chiffon, cappuccino, chocolate strawberry, ganache cream, lemon citrus and red velvet, along with dozens of other baked goods such as coffee buns, cherry Greek yogurt danishes, feuillete au chocolat, pain au chocolat, fruit pastries, raspberry almond croissants, pastel de nata, pineapple brulee pastries, cinnamon apple pies, tiramisu tarts, walnut cream bread, choux cream bread, coffee croissant doughnuts and strawberry mochi doughnuts.
Whole cakes and cake slices are available.
Customers also can enjoy savory items such as Hawaiian jalapeno quiche, broccoli cheddar quiche, chicken bacon ranch pizzettas, ham and cheese pastries, crab meat croquettes, smoked sausage bread; shareable breads such as milk bread, raisin bread, mini garlic croissants and mini grain cream cheese pastries; and breakfast sandwiches such as bacon, egg and cheddar on a croissant and ham, egg and cheese on a twist roll.
The menu also features a variety of salads, sandwiches and wraps, including a caprese baguette, chicken Caesar wrap, turkey avocado sandwich and harvest chicken salad sandwich, among others.
“There also will be seasonal specials,” Ma said. “I cannot wait to offer Christmas specials in the Christmas City.”
‘Fall’ into flavor with Paris Baguette’s new seasonal menu featuring pumpkin and maple delights
Paris Baguette also serves a wide array of drinks, including hot beverages such as Americano, cafe mocha, caramel coconut lattes and matcha lattes; cold beverages such as salted caramel sweet cream cold brew, iced chai lattes, watermelon lemonade refreshers and peach iced tea; and frozen beverages such as mocha frappes and mango smoothies.
In Bethlehem, Paris Baguette will feature indoor and outdoor seating, Ma said.
“The average size of a Paris Baguette location is 3,000 square feet, but our space at the Boyd is almost 4,000 square feet,” Ma said.
“So, it’s going to be a huge bakery and cafe – not your small mom-and-pop bake shop. It’s going to be a grand-scale bakery cafe operation. We’ll also be offering catering.”
Ma signed the lease for her Paris Baguette location on Thursday, and she has already commissioned an architect to create its architectural drawings.
“Once the drawings are done, the next step will be to get permits,” Ma said.
The James Balliet Property Group is handling the leasing for the new Boyd complex, and one ground-floor commercial space – totaling roughly 2,800 square feet – remains available, president James Balliet said.
Individuals interested in leasing out the space may contact Balliet at 610-435-1800.
“From a retail broker perspective, we could not be happier with the Paris Baguette concept.,” Balliet said. “It’s exactly what we were looking for, and we’re confident that it will be a great addition to the city’s downtown.”
More in Northampton County
‘Exciting new chapter’: Popular Bucks County brew pub to open 2nd location in Easton
EASTON, Pa. – A tasty new venture is brewing in Northampton County.
Vault Brewing Co., a Bucks County-based brew pub offering unique craft beer and food made with local ingredients, is expected to open a second location in late October at 225 Ferry St. in downtown Easton.
The Easton location will operate in a soon-to-be renovated building between Sette Luna Tuscan Trattoria and the newly opened Albanesi Restaurant & Bar.
Vault was established in 2012 at 10 S. Main St. in Yardley, according to Allyson Malandra, Vault’s marketing director. The late 19th century building was originally home to Yardley National Bank. Full story here.
‘Heavy hearts’: Beloved family-run eatery to permanently close in Northampton County
MOORE TWP., Pa. – A Lehigh Valley staple for ice cream, pierogies, soups and sandwiches is set to end operations at the end of the month.
Blue Moo Ice Cream Shop & More, at 2693 Community Drive in Moore Township, will hold its last day of business on Aug. 31, according to an announcement on the business’ Facebook page.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce our FINAL WEEKS of operation,” the post reads.
“… After 10 summers being part of the Moore township community, we will miss everyone tremendously. We want to thank you for your continued support over the years and hope to see everyone one last time before we say our goodbyes.”
In the winter, husband-and-wife owners Brian and Michelle Crocefoglia announced they were looking to retire from the food-service industry and that the shop was for sale. Read more here.
Lehigh County news
New dog grooming and wellness center to ‘keep pups clean and healthy’ in Lehigh County
S. WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – Dog owners seeking top-notch care for their canine companions will soon have a new facility to frequent in the Lehigh Valley.
A new location of Scenthound, a chain of dog grooming and wellness centers, is tentatively set to open Sept. 6 at 3034 Tilghman St. Unit 13 in South Whitehall Township, franchise owner Sean Stitt said.
The new facility will operate between My Salon Suite and LA Nails in the Village West shopping center.
Scenthound has more than 250 locations open or in development nationwide, with the South Whitehall facility set to be the chain’s first Lehigh Valley location. Read more.
Luxury boutique – offering clothing, shoes, home goods and more – to open in Allentown
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Individuals looking to freshen up their wardrobe and home will soon have a new store to frequent in the Lehigh Valley.
A luxury specialty boutique, jone(s) on 9th, offering unisex products including apparel, accessories, footwear, art, fragrances and home goods, is set to open Aug. 31 on the ground floor of the Cityplace South apartment complex at Ninth and Hamilton streets in downtown Allentown.
The store will offer a mix of unique local, national and international brands, owner Megan Colon said.
Customers will be able to shop Lehigh Valley-made items such as clothing, candles, rugs and artwork. The store also will feature jone(s) signature fragrances. Full story here.
Allentown’s new boutique hotel now hiring for fall opening
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A new hotel in downtown Allentown is now hiring.
Moxy Allentown Downtown is looking for “high-energy candidates” for a range of positions, including housekeeping, operations, cook, bartender and more.
The 133-room boutique hotel at 949 Hamilton St. is set to open in the fall, as construction wraps up. An exact date has not been announced. Read more here.
Culinary comeback: Chef reopens South Whitehall restaurant
S. WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — It’s a surreal homecoming for Chef John Moniak, who reopened his restaurant, The Wicked Chef, in July.
“It feels weird. It’s like if you take a nap for almost four years and you woke up and all the sudden, here it is again,” he said.
He and his wife, Georgiann, originally opened at this location in South Whitehall Township in October 2019, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unable to get any support, they had to close the business after a few months. Read more.
Dollar General adds fresh produce at recently remodeled Allentown location
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A national retail chain billing itself as “America’s neighborhood general store” has added strawberries, sweet potatoes and other fruits and vegetables to the merchandise mix of one of its Lehigh County locations.
Dollar General, offering “affordable and convenient access to household essentials,” has announced that its recently remodeled store at 310 W. Emmaus Ave. in Allentown now offers produce in addition to the same categories, brands and products customers trust Dollar General to carry.
“At Dollar General, we strive to be a positive business partner and good community neighbor in Allentown,” said Matthew Simonsen, Dollar General’s senior vice president of real estate and store development, in a news release.
“Although we are not a grocery store, we believe the addition of produce in our Allentown store highlights our commitment to deliver a pleasant shopping experience that includes affordable prices on quality products in a convenient location.” Read more.
Shopping center updates
Starbucks and credit union debut, 5 other tenants coming soon at revamped Westgate Mall
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Popular restaurant chains and financial institutions continue to breathe new life into Bethlehem’s Westgate Mall.
A Starbucks cafe opened Aug. 16, a People First Federal Credit Union opened Monday and several other tenants are set to follow at the Schoenersville Road shopping center amid an ongoing redevelopment project.
The Starbucks cafe, at 2409 Schoenersville Road, opened in an end unit of a newly constructed strip mall building that was built at the site of a former interior portion of the mall.
The roughly 50,000-square-foot demolished portion previously housed a variety of prominent mall tenants, including Amateur Athlete, Hawk Music and Westgate Jewelers, which were forced to vacate the shopping center in early 2023. Full story here.
Palmer Park Mall bids farewell to arcade, welcoming another
PALMER TWP., Pa. – After about eight months of business, an arcade featuring retro and modern games has closed at the Palmer Park Mall, but a new arcade – a second location of a popular Allentown area arcade – is set to open at the same shopping mall.
The Arcade Era, offering more than 60 retro and modern arcade games, closed earlier this summer at the Palmer Township mall.
Business partners Romina Bartel and Alejandro Vargas opened the Palmer Park Mall arcade in December.
It was The Arcade Era’s second location, supplementing a location that continues to operate at the Stroud Mall in Stroud Township. Read more here.
Upcoming events
Pierogies and Pints festival at Blue Mountain Resort debuts this weekend
PALMERTON, Pa., — Craving pierogies? Blue Mountain Resort has the perfect occasion to attend.
Blue Mountain Resort will be hosting their first-ever Pierogies and Pints Festival on Saturday, Aug. 24, and Sunday, Aug. 25, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The beer garden offers savory and sweet pierogi sampling, craft pints, live music, craft vendors, and a welcoming community.
Saturday’s entertainment features the rock band, Toolshed Jack, while Sunday will showcase the nine-piece funk band, Flirtin’ With The Mob. Read more.
What’s coming to the Allentown Fair? Live music, pig-lympics, and more
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — We are just a week away from the start of another Lehigh Valley summer tradition.
Crews have started getting the Allentown Fairgrounds ready for this year’s Great Allentown Fair.
The fair, kicking off on Wednesday, Aug. 28 and running through Monday, Sept. 2, will feature outdoor concerts, rides, games, novelty attractions, food, and a showcase of products from the region’s farms, gardens, and homes.
The fair’s centerpiece, the Grandstand venue, will offer five national artists concerts and the annual Labor Day tradition, the J & J Demolition Derby. Full story here.
Magic of Disney coming to PPL Center this December
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The magic of Disney is coming to the PPL Center in Allentown.
Disney On Ice presents Into The Magic is scheduled to be at the PPL Center on the following dates:
- Thursday, December 12 – 7:00 p.m.
- Friday, December 13 – 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, December 14 – 11:00 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m.
- Sunday, December 15 – 11:00 a.m., 3 p.m.
Odds and ends
Plant shop blooming with new ‘gourmet soda & beverage bar’ in Upper Bucks
SELLERSVILLE, Pa. – A popular Bucks County plant business is offering a “unique blend of nature and flavor” at its new location in Bucks County.
Just One More Plant, carrying more than 100 varieties of plants along with soil, pottery and plant accessories, on Aug. 17 opened at its new spot at 220 N. Main St. in Sellersville.
The new store incorporates The Fizzy Fern, a “gourmet soda & beverage bar” offering fully customized drinks inside the shop.
Just One More Plant previously operated at 1585 Clay Ave. in Springfield Township, just off Route 309, and owner Erin Volovnik was looking for a change of scenery – a “walkable area with more of a community aspect,” she said. Read more.
‘Craveability of the tropics’: National cafe chain opening locations in Poconos, Lehigh Valley
STROUD TOWNSHIP, Pa. – A popular chain that aims to make eating better “easy breezy” with made-to-order smoothies, bowls, flatbreads and wraps is expanding its footprint in the region.
A new location of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a national, fast-casual cafe concept, will hold a soft opening at 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 25 at 361 Charles Way in Stroud Township, Monroe County, franchisee Carlos Silver said.
The new cafe, located in the Shoppes at Stroud, will be the chain’s first Poconos location.
A grand opening event is planned for Sept. 27. For the grand opening, the first 50 customers will get one free smoothie a week for a year, Silver said. Full story here.