Business News

A local restaurateur is taking over day-to-day operations at one of Allentown's newest restaurants: Rosa Blanca. "Iron Chef" winner Jose Garces still owns the Cuban café, but asked the owners of Amigos, which sits next door, to help manage it.

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission on Thursday reviewed a draft of its Industrial Land Use Guide, highlighting key points of concern and some potential mitigation strategies to address bigger, more utility-intensive uses.

After nearly two years for its construction, the Walnut Street Garage is open downtown between Main and New streets.

On Thursday, one of the final pieces of timber was placed atop an outer wall of the $47 million, 188,000-square-foot, multi-functional indoor facility under construction at Grange Park.

Northampton County moved forward a pair of measures Wednesday modifying the county's 2026 budget proposal. The council killed amendments setting aside more money for the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites.

Mangiacarne has rebranded, with Chef Luca Manfè taking sole ownership and changing the name to Luca and Sons, with promises of high-quality meats, cheeses,and a few new items as well.

Federal health officials say 31 babies in 15 states have been sickened in a growing outbreak of infantile botulism tied to ByHeart infant formula. ByHeart recalled all of its products sold throughout the U.S. No deaths have been reported. Health officials say parents and caregivers who have the formula in their homes should stop using it immediately and dispose of the product. Botulism is a rare but serious disease that can cause paralysis and death. Symptoms can take weeks to develop. The most recent case was reported Nov. 11.

More than two dozen Allegiant Air pilots picketed outside Lehigh Valley International Airport on Tuesday as part of a group effort to demand the airline provide them with a better contract after nearly five years of negotiations.

The state Public Utility Commission will conduct hearings in December to gather public input on a proposed rate increase by PPL Electric Utilities Corp.

A Lehigh County judge heard arguments Monday in a case that will decide whether a 501,000-square-foot warehouse will rise on 71 acres near Route 309 and Orefield Road.

DOE has selected PPL's application for consideration in the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program.

Dorney Park officials said the first piece of Iron Menace arrived Thursday, and represents the first truckload of what will be about 68 total.

The $20 million mixed-use development is offering 75 apartments with one- and two-bedroom varieties among other things.

$2.5 million of renovations are completed for the Victory Firehouse in Southside Bethlehem as BSI Corporate Benefits' new headquarters. The renovations include modern office spaces, technology improvements, a new kitchen and re-adding firehouse-like garage doors.

Allentown officials and City Center representatives have said the new zoning regulations will lay the "framework" for the developer's ambitious plans.

Blackstone Structures’ Gary Newman said he considered refurbishing or moving the buildings in lieu of knocking them down, but those projects were too expensive and infeasible.

Another pediatric emergency room now is open in the Lehigh Valley. St. Luke’s University Health Network on Monday opened the Isaacman Family Children’s Emergency Room, after establishing a children’s hospital this past June.

The monthly report from the Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors shows home sales down 32 percent in September from September 2022. Low inventory and higher mortgage rates are to blame, officials say.

Pharmacy chain Rite Aid said late Sunday that it has filed for bankruptcy and now is focused on a restructuring plan that will close underperforming stores — including several in the Lehigh Valley.

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.

City planners voted 3-0 to approve land development plans for the hotel. The developer has a number of tasks to complete before receiving building permits.

Though Ideal Tower will have three fewer floors than the PPL Tower, it's set to stand 326 feet high — four feet taller than the iconic Allentown structure.