MACUNGIE, Pa. — A tasty turnaround is on the horizon as fresh eats, flavorful drinks and fun times with friends are set to return to a landmark building in Lehigh County.
The 19th-century property that once housed The Pub on Main at 102 E. Main St. in Macungie has been undergoing extensive interior and exterior renovations since December in preparation for a new restaurant and bar tenant — Trading Post on Main — that is expected to open in June.
The full-service establishment will offer a wide array of made-from-scratch Mexican and American dishes along with a full bar.
Trading Post on Main, a full-service restaurant offering a wide array of made-from-scratch Mexican and American dishes along with a full bar, is expected to open in June at 102 E. Main St. in Macungie.
Trading Post on Main owner Miguel Razon has more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry and is eager to serve up a new delicious concept in the area.
"I'm super excited," Razon said. "It'll be a fusion of Mexican and American food, with everything made from scratch."
Razon, of Catasauqua, Lehigh County, has worked in the kitchens of several Lehigh Valley establishments, including the former Emmaus Diner in Emmaus, The Meadows banquet hall in Lower Saucon Township and the former Bear Swamp Diner about a block away from Trading Post on Main in Macungie.
In 2017, he opened his first food truck, Taco Town, whose popularity led to four other food trucks of the same name opening in the ensuing years.
Two of the Taco Towns food trucks operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at a pair of Allentown locations: Lehigh Street and Downyflake Lane; and Union Boulevard and Airport Road, Razon said.
The other food trucks visit businesses such as breweries and wineries and are also available for private parties.
In 2017, Razon also opened another brick-and-mortar restaurant, La Cabanita Authentic Mexican Cuisine on South Pike Avenue in Salisbury Township, but that restaurant is temporarily closed following a late-2022 fire.
New life for a historic property
In Macungie, Trading Post on Main is breathing new life into the ground floor of a prominent 19th-century property, which husband and wife Steve and Misti Slaski purchased in December and have been painstakingly updating over the past four months.
The Slaskis, of Emmaus, have been working with a team of contractors on interior and exterior renovations, with their first order of business being the demolition of a dilapidated covered porch and construction of a new one in its place.
They've also installed new siding to the back of the building and done an entire "gut job" inside, taking the basement, kitchen and pub area down to the studs before "totally rebuilding it," Steve said.
"My wife and I love Macungie, and we're really invested in the community," Steve said.
"So, if I'm being honest, we're probably over-improving the property by a significant amount step by step. The building is a historical site, built in 1845, and we really want to bring it back to those glory days. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of money and time to do that right."
Trading Post on Main, a full-service restaurant offering a wide array of made-from-scratch Mexican and American dishes along with a full bar, is expected to open in June at 102 E. Main St. in Macungie.
Workers exposed the building's original, hand-hewn wooden beams in the ceiling, while adding cement stucco with a brick inlay to the walls.
Other rustic touches include whiskey barrels adorning the corners of the bar and reclaimed wood from a former nearby barn on the walls.
Razon decided on the name, Trading Post on Main, after a community poll in a Facebook group, "Macungie, PA Neighborhood," showed it to be the most popular choice.
Over the building's more than 175-year history, it's been home to several businesses, including a hotel, flower shop and grocery store, which made the forthcoming restaurant's name "very suitable," Steve said.
"In olden times, when people lived far away from each other, a trading post was a place where they could gather and exchange goods and services," Misti added. "That's what this will be — a place for the community to gather."
In recent decades, the corner property at East Main and Lea streets was home to The Pub on Main, which former owners Franco Armetta and Brian Fey opened in 2008. Prior to this establishment, the building was home to Macungie Pub.
The Pub on Main was a popular spot for drinks, billiards and casual American pub fare for many years, but staffing struggles led to the business' closure in April 2022.
"There just aren't enough people to work today," a post on The Pub on Main's Facebook page read at the time. "And many of our employees are expecting and onto their next chapter and we are beyond happy for them! Thank you for all your support over the years."
'Perfect fit'
Following their purchase of the property late last year, the Slaskis had several prospective restaurateurs reach out to them to inquire about possible business opportunities.
They decided to welcome Razon to the space due to his friendly nature, culinary chops and strong work ethic.
The business will be a family-run establishment, with Razon's wife, LoriAnn Cawley, and son, Xavier Razon, also helping out.
"We loved Miguel from the very beginning," Steve said.
"His kind personality and really strong knowledge of food made him the perfect fit. Also, his attention to detail is something that Misti and I were really impressed by. He doesn't want to rush anything and wants to make sure that his menu and concept are exactly the way that he wants them to be. His product is something that he takes seriously and is really proud of."
Trading Post on Main, a full-service restaurant offering a wide array of made-from-scratch Mexican and American dishes along with a full bar, is expected to open in June at 102 E. Main St. in Macungie.
Razon has a Mexican background, and many of the Mexican dishes will be prepared using family recipes that Razon learned from his mother.
Some of the restaurant's specialties will include sopes, burritos, fajitas, chimichangas, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos (regular and birria) and chile rellenos (stuffed peppers).
Trading Post on Main also will feature a variety of American staples, including charbroiled burgers and sandwiches such as cheesesteaks, ruebens and grilled chicken, Razon said.
Appetizers will include pierogies, mozzarella sticks and guacamole with chips, among other items.
The restaurant will be open daily for lunch and dinner, and a Sunday brunch buffet also may be offered.
"We'll also have homemade desserts, like flan, churros, tres leches cake and cheesecake," Razon said.
The dining space's U-shaped bar, which has been refurbished, is one of the few pieces that remains from The Pub on Main.
Trading Post on Main, a full-service restaurant offering a wide array of made-from-scratch Mexican and American dishes along with a full bar, is expected to open in June at 102 E. Main St. in Macungie.
Trading Post on Main will feature a full bar, with 20 draft beers, a wide selection of wines and specialty cocktails such as unique margaritas and micheladas.
Several local beers, wines and spirits will be featured, Razon said.
The main dining area will accommodate approximately 70 guests, and a party room for overflow dining and private events will accommodate about 60 more.
A wide assortment of entertainment will include seven TVs and regular events such as trivia, karaoke, live music and line dancing.
"Misti's from Texas, so she's all about the line dancing," Steve said.
'Hallmark of Macungie'
Because of the pub having been a mainstay in the borough, Steve knew the building improvements were "something that the whole town was going to be excited about."
The Slaskis also decided to implement upgrades to the upstairs apartments, along with additional exterior improvements, including painting the façade a "peppercorn" gray color and refurbishing a partially covered rear patio.
In addition to the former Trading Post on Main property, the Slaskis also acquired the adjacent three-story structure at 110 E. Main St. and neighboring residential building on the other side of the parking lot. In total, the buildings contain 12 apartments.
The Slaskis are also looking to convert an existing 8-car garage on the property into two additional commercial spaces.
"We actually bought the parking lot, the two-unit right next to the parking lot, the garages in the back and the barn in the back," Steve said. "So, we bought all three of the buildings, the parking lot, the barn and the garages, just because we want to rehab it all."
Trading Post on Main owner Miguel Razon (holding sign) poses with (from left to right) his son, Xavier Razon; his wife, LoriAnn Cawley; Taco Town manager Chelsea Garcia; and property owners Steve and Misti Slaski at the forthcoming restaurant at 102 E. Main St. in Macungie.
Steve, who operates CrossCountry Mortgage in Lower Macungie Township, also is planning to create a small outdoor "community area" featuring seating and local history displays near the building's front porch.
The three-story structure, which opened as the Macungie Hotel in the 1840s, is a landmark in the "heart of Macungie," and the Slaskis want to preserve as much of its history as possible, Steve said.
"We want to do this right," he added.
"So, there's a piece next to the front porch that's probably about a 10- to 15-foot span that we're going to make like a public area for Macungie. So, we're going to put benches and tables there, and behind it on the wall, we're going to attach historical photos and facts about Macungie."
Steve estimates that he's spent more than 500 hours renovating the property over the past few months, and "at least five times a day, someone stops in to comment on the work."
"Everyone's been reminiscing about their memories, saying how they used to come in here as a kid with their family or just hang out at the bar with friends," Steve said. "It's really a hallmark of Macungie, and everyone's loving the improvements."
Trading Post on Main is expected to open in June following attainment of the business' liquor license, Razon said.
Social media pages where the community can follow the latest updates, including an official opening announcement, are coming soon.
