Retail Watch: 'Lead a healthy lifestyle' with help from new Slate Belt shop, selling organic food, tea, body care items and more – The Morning Call
Looking to lead a healthier lifestyle in 2022? A new Slate Belt shop has you covered.
Airmidian Natural Remedies, carrying organic and locally sourced food, tea, spices, body care items and more, opened Dec. 20 at 352 Blue Valley Drive in Washington Township, Northampton County.
The shop, near the Capitol Plaza between Bangor and Pen Argyl, is operated by husband and wife Nicholas Williams and Amanda Knitter-Williams.
The Bangor couple makes much of the merchandise, including natural deodorant, sunscreen, herbal teas and salves (for acne, diaper rash, itch relief and other health conditions), on-site.
Other products include natural hand-sanitizing spray, anxiety relief spray, coffee scrub, eucalyptus chest rub, sore muscle rub, anti-inflammatory tinctures, baby teething gel and bug balm with tick repellent.
“Our concept is all-natural goods,” Knitter-Williams said. “The intention is to assist people who are leading or want to lead a healthy lifestyle. So, if someone’s looking to make better choices when it comes to what they consume or what they put on their body, this is the place for them.”
The renovated shop, which previously housed an eye doctor’s office, also partners with about a dozen local and regional vendors.
Items include potatoes from Twin Maple Farms in Bath; granola from Apple Ridge Farm in Saylorsburg; CBD gummies, tinctures and other products from Mindleaf in Easton; cheese and yogurt smoothies from Klein Farms Dairy & Creamery in Forks Township; hot cocoa bombs and chocolate and strawberry lollipops from Colleen’s Country Shop in Bangor; natural dog treats from Bandit Bones in Stroudsburg; pure maple syrup from Dutch Hill Preserves Co. in Canadensis, Monroe County; pickles from Kilhaney’s Pickles in Hackettstown, N.J.; and pork and other meats from Four Fields Farm in Great Meadows, N.J.
A nearby farmer is currently providing the shop with fruits and vegetables that he obtains from a Philadelphia supplier, but during the warmer months, the shop has plans to partner with around a half dozen local farms for produce.
Additionally, Knitter-Williams’ parents have a Plainfield Township farm, which will supply the shop with chicken, turkey and other proteins.
“We want to be a convenient destination for all of your healthful needs,” Knitter-Williams said. “Our teas, for example, are all made for specific purposes, like headache relief, tummy soothing and cough and sinus issues.”
Airmidian, which also sells items at the Monroe Farmers Market in Stroudsburg on Saturdays, was established in 2013 by Erin Kershaw. Williams and Knitter-Williams took control in 2017.
“[Kershaw] spent so much time perfecting these wonderful recipes, and we are forever grateful for her,” Knitter-Williams said.
Airmidian, which will be introducing a bulk section with gluten-free pasta, flour, oats and more in the coming months, is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. Info: 484-515-6306; airmidian.com.
The owners of a blossoming Thai-French fusion restaurant in the Easton area have cooked up another tasty venture in Northampton County.
Nakkarawoot Krueawong, Ratchaphol Rojratana and Visanu Kiewkajee, who opened La Kang Thai-French Cuisine in April 2020 at 190 S. Greenwood Ave. in Palmer Township, on Jan. 20 opened La Kang Thai Noodles Bar at 620 Main St. in Hellertown.
The borough space previously housed Sagra Bistro, which closed in 2019 after 11 years of business.
La Kang Thai Noodles Bar, with seating for around 50 guests, specializes in authentic Thai noodle dishes, including sukhothai pork noodle soup, duck confit leg noodle soup, drunken noodle, pad Thai and pad see ew (latter three available with choice of chicken, vegetable/tofu, shrimp, flank steak or crispy duck leg).
The full-service restaurant uses various types of noodles, including handmade egg and thin rice noodles, with most dishes priced between $16 and $19.
“We are using family recipes as well as making dishes from restaurants that we liked from our time spent in Thailand,” said Krueawong, who moved to the United States from Thailand in 2014.
In addition to noodle selections, other menu highlights include triple mushroom spring rolls, jumbo lump crab fried rice and moo yang (grilled coconut marinated pork sirloin with spicy tamarind sauce).
Rojratana, who studied culinary arts at Northampton Community College, previously worked as a chef at other Lehigh Valley restaurants such as House & Barn in Emmaus and the former Roar Social House in Allentown.
Krueawong credits his culinary skills to his mother, Pattharaporn Wasilewski, while Visanu is following in the footsteps of his father, Charlie Kiewkajee, who operates the 13-year-old Thai Thai II restaurant on Main Street in Bethlehem. Info: 484-851-3232.
Several readers have inquired about work at the former Hi-Way Family Restaurant at 5470 Route 145 in the Laurys Station section of North Whitehall Township.
Brothers Johnny and Richard Schafer in July purchased the longstanding restaurant with plans to open a new eatery, Laurys Station American Grill, in the coming months.
The duo has been renovating the decades-old property since mid-summer, adding “new everything” in the kitchen — including lighting, plumbing and tile flooring — and giving the dining room a “heavy refresh” with new wall paint, ceiling tiles, restored teal booths and more, Johnny said.
Unfortunately, delays with kitchen equipment arriving have pushed back previous tentative opening dates of September and November. The Schafers now hope to open their establishment in March, Johnny said.
“The light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer,” he added. “The dining room is all done, and we have everything but one piece of kitchen equipment in place.”
Hi-Way, which was operated by brothers Nick and Mike Gentis, closed in July after more than 40 years of business.
At the new restaurant, menu highlights will include Hi-Way mainstays such as burgers, steak sandwiches and breakfast favorites like French toast and omelettes. More than two dozen entrees will include pork chops, broiled scallops, crab imperial, chicken carbonara and 12-ounce New York strip and T-bone steaks. Info: laurysstationamericangrill.com.
One last bit of foodie news: Honeygrow, a fast-casual chain specializing in wholesome and customizable salads, stir-fry dishes and “honeybar” desserts, is planning to open its first area outpost in the spring on North West End Boulevard in the Quakertown Plaza (next to Chipotle), according to a post on the business’ Instagram page.
Honeygrow, founded by Justin Rosenberg in Philadelphia in 2012, has 26 locations in seven states.
Customers can choose from signature salads and stir-frys or create their own with their choice of freshly made noodles, greens, garnishes, signature dressings and sauces and proteins such as roasted shrimp, chicken and tofu.
Honeybar cups feature fresh fruit, garnishes and local honey or maple syrup. Info: instagram.com/honeygrow.
About seven miles north of Quakertown, Wawa, the Delaware County-based convenience store and gas station chain with more than 860 stores in six states and Washington, D.C., is set to open its newest area location 8 a.m. Thursday at 6680 Route 309 in Upper Saucon Township, according to a news release.
Wawa “Goose Vibes Only” T-shirts will be distributed to the first 100 customers, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Wawa’s mascot, Wally Goose, will be held at 9 a.m.
A few homes, the former Truly Fine furniture and home furnishings store and the former Peppercorn Pub-turned apartment building were razed to make way for the project.
The site also will feature a newly constructed McDonald’s restaurant, which is set to open within the next few months.
Wawa, which started out as a New Jersey iron foundry in 1803, has been expanding its Lehigh Valley footprint over the past year with plans to open more area locations in 2022.
Other outposts have been proposed or are under construction at 364 Susquehanna St., Allentown (set to open this winter); 774-784 Hellertown Road (Route 412), Bethlehem; 40890 Jandy Blvd., Lower Nazareth Township; 90 Highland Ave., Hanover Township, Northampton County; and Route 309 and Chapmans Road, South Whitehall Township. Info: wawa.com.
From fuel to fashion, Designer Consigner, a high-end designer consignment boutique, last weekend moved from 521 Main St. in Bethlehem to 77 W. Broad St. Unit 19 in Bethlehem (next to The Joint Coffee Co.), manager Ashley Marsh said.
The business, carrying fashions and accessories from top designers such as Chanel, Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton, was established by mother and daughter Gail and Alexandra Fly in 2011.
At its new location, customers can continue to shop a wide selection of clothing and footwear, including boots, pumps, sweaters and coats, along with accessories such as hats, handbags and sunglasses.
“Many items are brand new and come with their original box and dust bag,” Marsh said. “Other items are in good and excellent used conditioned.”
The boutique also offers buyouts, where customers can get cash for their designer items, along with styling assistance. Info: 610-419-0913; designerconsignerbethlehem.com.
Lastly, Shangy’s, Emmaus’ longstanding specialty beer wholesaler and retailer, is planning to open a second location in mid- to late-March at 6480 Alburtis Road in Lower Macungie Township, owner Nima Hadian said.
The new location, at the intersection of Alburtis Road and Route 100 (next to McDonald’s), is about 5 miles west of the business’ original location, which opened in 1980 at 40 E. Main St. in Emmaus.
Hadian purchased the Lower Macungie property, which previously housed an O2 OxyFit gym, about 10 months ago and has been working with Upper Macungie Township’s Jerdon Construction to outfit the space with improvements.
The self-described “beer authority,” with around 4,200 varieties, is planning to offer the same expansive selection, including IPAs, lagers and stouts available in single bottles, packs and cases.
There will be around 15,000 square feet of retail space — nearly identical to that of the Emmaus store — housing domestics, imports and selections from Lehigh Valley breweries such as Fegley’s Brew Works and Separatist Beer Project.
As is the case in Emmaus, the Lower Macungie spot also will have a large “mix-a-six” area, where customers can create their own six-packs; an alcoholic slushie bar, featuring around 30 flavors of spiked slushies; and a growler/crowler bar, featuring more than 20 domestic and international draft beers to-go, including craft varieties from Allentown’s Sherman Street Beer Co. and other local breweries. Info: facebook.com/shangysthebeerauthority.
Retail Watch, appearing every weekend, keeps track of retail and restaurant news in the Lehigh Valley. Contact Ryan Kneller at 610-820-6597 or retailwatch@mcall.com.
