Allentown City Council unanimously approved a liquor license transfer, allowing a not-yet-opened restaurant on Hamilton Street to serve alcohol.
City Center Investment Corp., one of the Lehigh Valley’s most prominent developers, obtained a liquor license for 950 Hamilton St., which is a mixed-use apartment building.
The restaurant will be “a fast casual” eatery on the first floor with seating space for around 34 patrons, according to Dave Berger, an attorney representing City Center. The developer is in talks with restaurant operators and did not disclose other details about the type of cuisine, except that would serve “ethnic” food. Berger said alcohol sales at the restaurant are an “additional amenity” but that the operators’ primary purpose would be food sales, and it would not operate as a bar.
“This is not going to be an establishment that’s open until 2 a.m.,” Berger said, and added that it would likely close at 11 p.m. or before.
Council members said the fact that the restaurant would not have late hours and is not night-life oriented prompted them to support the license transfer.
“It’s a nice spot and it’s a nice place for people to be able to go, and not have problem bars like those in the past in that area,” Council member Candida Affa said.
The license will be transferred from Haak’s Schoolhouse, a cheesesteak restaurant and bar in Heidelberg Township.
Jill Wheeler, City Center’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said they hope the restaurant will open some time in the fall, and would share details as they are available.
