Jamba Juice is on its way to the Lehigh Valley.
Restaurateur Yogesh Patel said Wednesday that he hopes to open the region's first location this summer in South Whitehall Township.
He's shooting for late July, but the opening date will depend on how quickly his proposal moves through the township's permitting process.
Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Jamba Juice has more than 800 locations worldwide and is one of the nation's best known smoothie and juice franchises. It's celebrating 25 years in business Thursday by giving away one free juice or smoothie per customer.
Local fans will have to go out of their way to take advantage of the freebie, however. Right now, the closest locations are in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and New Brunswick, New Jersey.
If Patel has his way, that will soon change.
The South Whitehall Jamba Juice is slated to occupy about 800 square feet of a roughly 4,100-square-foot building at 4604 Broadway in the Tilghman Square shopping center, Patel. The remainder of the building, which is under construction, will be home to the region's second Moe's Southwest Grill.
The Moe's is scheduled for a late June or early July opening, said Patel, who also owns an existing Moe's at 3211 Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem.
At first, Patel was eyeing a Robeks for the space in South Whitehall. Like Jamba Juice, Robeks is a California-based smoothie chain, but it's only about an eighth the size.
Ultimately, Patel decided to go with Jamba Juice because it's got better name recognition. Even people who don't have Jamba Juice in their community are familiar with the restaurant because the chain is an airport staple, he said.
Meanwhile, Robeks hasn't ruled out opening a location in the area. A company official in February said the Lehigh Valley's demographics would support a franchise and the chain has been eyeing the Allentown area as it expands in Pennsylvania.
Precious Petty may be reached at ppetty@express-times.com. Follow her on Twitter @precpetty. Find Lehigh County news on Facebook.