BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A longtime tenant of Westgate Mall in Bethlehem has discovered a brand new dwelling throughout the mall’s ongoing redevelopment.

Newbie Athlete, a well-liked retailer that sells skateboards, longboards, informal put on, swimwear, sneakers, and equipment corresponding to sun shades, plans to maneuver to Bethlehem’s Lehigh Mall, 2100 W. Union Blvd., the corporate has introduced on his Instagram web page.

The shop will proceed to function at Westgate, its dwelling for over 35 years, till the tip of March.

“Now we’ve got the enjoyable activity of constructing a brand new retailer and shifting 36 years of stuff!” reads the web announcement. “Due to everybody who stopped by to point out some love! We will not await what we’ve got within the pipeline! It is onerous to say goodbye to our very long time dwelling, however it’s time for an replace!”

Since information of the Newbie Athlete’s impending departure from Westgate first broke a few months in the past, enterprise has “really been higher than regular” with many shoppers coming to precise heat needs, ha stated proprietor Joseph Yoo.

“It has been a complicated time, however what has been comforting is the quantity of people that have come and supplied their assist and heat needs,” stated Yoo. “We have at all times had a really loyal clientele and it has been actually heartwarming to see how a lot folks care.”

Newbie Athlete is one among a number of companies which have been compelled out of Westgate because of the redevelopment of the purchasing centre.

Two companies — Vacation Hair and Vogue Nails — have already vacated the Schoenersville Street property, and three extra — Hawk Music, Subway and Westgate Jewelers and Repairs — are of their ultimate weeks on the 50-year-old mall.

A couple of months in the past the enterprise homeowners acquired notifications to vacate their area from mall proprietor Onyx Equities, who plans to raze roughly 50,000 sq. ft contained in the mall to construct roughly 8,000 sq. ft of recent business amenities.

A consultant from Onyx Equities didn’t return messages in search of touch upon the evicted tenants.

The Vacation Hair salon chain was the primary to go, merging with a neighboring location about three miles away at Pointe North Procuring Heart, 5510 Crawford Drive, Hanover Township, Northampton County, in late January.

The chain’s Westgate outpost had been working within the mall for the reason that Nineteen Seventies.

“All of our stylists have gone to Pointe North,” supervisor Sue Repsher stated. “It is actually unhappy as a result of we have been one of many first corporations in Westgate. And it is the individuals who stay within the instant neighborhood that I am actually sorry for. A number of them drive right here to get their hair completed after which buy groceries. After I say them that there is one other salon six minutes away, they are saying, ‘I am unable to drive that far!'”

Cuong Nguyen, proprietor of nail salon Vogue Nails, purchased Nail Trix in South Whitehall Township and is constant his enterprise on the 1536 N. Cedar Crest Blvd. website in late February.

“We will not thanks sufficient for the countless assist of Vogue Nails over the previous 9 years,” reads a message on the corporate’s Fb web page. “We’re so lucky to have developed relationships with so many individuals, not solely as our prospects however as our associates as effectively. We hope you’ll proceed to assist us at our new location, which is roughly 11 minutes West on [Route] 22.”

Companies vacating the mall by the tip of the month embody Hawk Music and Westgate Jewelers and Repairs.

Hawk Music, which has been on the mall since its debut in 1973, will shut on March 31.

The shop, which presents gross sales of drum kits, guitars, and different musical devices together with instrument leases and repairs, operates within the northernmost a part of the mall’s inside. Nevertheless, his longtime dwelling was on the heart of the mall (at the moment the location of Sky Zone Trampoline Park), co-owner Pat Paulus stated.

Paulus and his brother, Phil Hawk, run the music enterprise that their late father, Invoice Hawk, began 50 years in the past.

Paulus stated his brother could proceed to run a music store at one other location however plans to retire after the Westgate store closes.

“I have been right here for the reason that starting, and now I am prepared to observe the grandkids,” Paulus stated. “My brother is 5 years youthful and he is the one who actually loves music. That is his life for him. He performs guitar and bass professionally and might repair any instrument he brings.”

On the corporate’s web site, the brothers supplied extra hope, noting that they’re at the moment in talks with some native residents who’re concerned with beginning a brand new music retailer for the group.

“Hopefully we will do this,” they wrote.

Hawk Music are planning a buyer appreciation occasion, 11am-4pm on March twenty fifth. The sibling operators encourage prospects, household and associates to cease by one final time earlier than closing their doorways.

“Hopefully we may have offered most of our inventory by then,” they wrote on the Fb occasion web page. “Please carry your instrument so we will play!”

Just some doorways down from Hawk Music, Westgate Jewelers and Repairs is holding its annual sidewalk clearance sale — that includes deeply discounted jewellery together with different objects like toys, dolls and residential decor — by March 26 earlier than relocating the shop subsequent month.

Proprietor Laurel DiFelice plans to maneuver the longtime jewellery enterprise to a different Bethlehem location, however she will be able to’t reveal her precise tackle till the brand new retailer’s safety system is put in.

“We’re actually excited concerning the transfer,” DiFelice stated. “I’ve at all times been a designer jeweler, however now I am branding myself as an expert personal jeweler. So, you’ll are available in, sit down with me and speak about precisely what you need, and we’ll make it occur.”

To offer again to the group forward of the shop’s relocation, DiFelice partnered with NewsRadio 790 WAEB’s Bobby Gunther Walsh to host a “Guess The place We’re Shifting” charity contest, wherein $500 shall be donated to the charity of the winner’s alternative.

The winner may even obtain a $200 Westgate Jewelers present certificates, DiFelice stated.

Moreover, the group has the prospect to win $25 present certificates for Mink’s Candies on the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market within the weeks main as much as the shop’s transfer.

“Persons are actually enthusiastic about our transfer and we’re having loads of enjoyable,” DiFelice stated. “I believe it is actually necessary to assist the group as a result of the group helps us.”

The following firm to depart Westgate Mall shall be sandwich chain Subway, which is anticipated to depart in mid-April.

Franchisee Nick Ferrani is on the lookout for a brand new location for the close by restaurant.

As quickly as an acceptable spot is discovered, Ferrani plans to put ads in-store and on-line.

“We need to transfer to a brand new website as near the mall as doable,” Ferrani stated.

Onyx Equities, a New Jersey actual property funding and actual property companies agency, bought Westgate in 2018, with a number of rounds of restructurings over the subsequent few years.

The newest levels of the redevelopment embody the demolition of a part of the mall inside and the development of two new buildings: a freestanding financial institution with a drive-thru (subsequent to the relocated Weis Markets) and a mall that can home Jersey Mikes Subs, Eating places QDOBA Mexican Eats and Starbucks together with a yet-to-be-announced retailer. A drive-thru for the Starbucks is deliberate.

One in every of downtown’s largest modifications occurred in 2021, when Weis moved from his 32,000-square-foot retailer close to the downtown core to a transformed 63,000-square-foot retailer in a part of the previous Bon-Ton Division Retailer North finish of the mall.

Different current modifications embody Lehigh Valley Well being Community opening a 27,000 sq. foot medical gear processing facility behind the previous Bon-Ton; California-based {hardware} and power chain Harbor Freight Instruments opens in a part of former Weis area (adjoining area remains to be to be leased); and an Oak Road Well being main care medical facility that it plans to open in a part of the previous Ceremony Help area on the south finish of downtown.

Moreover, a High-quality Wine & Good Spirits retailer is working from a brief location subsequent to Newbie Athlete as its unique location is expanded close to the south finish of downtown.

Different deliberate additions embody a world quick-service burger chain on the northern finish of downtown (reverse Weis) and a monetary establishment on the website of the previous Dempsey’s restaurant on the south finish of downtown.

Inbuilt 1973, Westgate Mall has housed many companies over time, together with notable former tenants such because the Artwork & Drafting Connection, Beef Home, Bookarama, Sweet Carousel, Hourglass Hallmark, McCrory and Toy Tunnel.

Greater than a dozen companies proceed to function within the mall, together with Nation Rose Florist, Grand China Buffet & Grill, Johnnys Bagels & Deli, Outlooks for Hair, and Panda Cleaners, amongst others.