Home Care In Center Valley, PA

UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. – A fast-casual restaurant chain – dishing out gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita and other Greek specialties – is preparing to open its first Pennsylvania location in the Lehigh Valley.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, serving a variety of authentic Greek dishes created from family recipes passed down through generations in Greece, is expected to open in the summer at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, according to a news release.

The 2,550-square-foot eatery will be located between Lashes by Gab and Komé Fine Japanese Cuisine at the Upper Saucon Township shopping center.

“We are excited to welcome The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill to our rapidly expanding collection of top retailers and coveted restaurants at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley,” said Natalia Stezenko, The Promenade Shops’ senior general manager, in the release. “Our guests have expressed an interest in having us add more health-conscious dining options, something that The Great Greek expertly brings to the table.”

Chris and Marcia Nagy, owners of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill location in Center Valley, are very excited to get the new business up and running.

“We saw a great space at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley for our restaurant and were delighted when we learned it was available,” Chris Nagy said. “The location has great visibility, easy accessibility, a beautiful atmosphere, and we believe the customer base will love the delicious, fresh, and healthy Mediterranean food.”

Known for its timeless flavors and legendary service, The Great Greek serves a variety of authentic Greek dishes, including appetizers such as dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), hummus, tzatziki and avgolemono soup (Greek lemon chicken soup with rice).

Customers also can enjoy hearty salads and bowls, including a classic Greek salad (featuring crisp romaine hearts, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, Kalamata olives, Greek feta, fresh herbs, homemade Greek vinaigrette and optional add-ons such as falafel, dolmades, gyro meat, chicken breast, steak tenderloin, jumbo shrimp, leg of lamb and Atlantic salmon) and “The Great Greek Rice Bowl” (featuring rice pilaf with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, marinated garbanzo beans, Kalamata olives, crumbled feta, side of tzatziki sauce and choice of chicken breast, leg of lamb, gyro meat, steak tenderloin, jumbo shrimp, falafel or Atlantic salmon).

Other menu highlights include beef/lamb or grilled chicken gyros, an Athenian burger (half pound grilled Angus beef with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, tzatziki and feta) and entrees such as a falafel and gyro plates and various souvlaki platters (grilled chicken, grilled steak, Australian lamb or garlic shrimp).

Entrees are served with a side Greek salad, tzatziki and pita.

“Designed for foodies with discerning palates, The Great Greek focuses on fresh ingredients, spice blends sourced from the Mediterranean, and sauces and marinades made in house,” the release steates. “Each dish is prepared fresh, making The Great Greek a healthy alternative to traditional fast casual restaurants.”

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, a member of the Starpoint Brands family (a division of United Franchise Group), was founded in 2011 by two Greek-Armenian, third-generation restaurateurs.

In January 2016, Nick Della Penna and Trent Jones took over the first Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, expanding the brand to include franchised locations from coast to coast in the ensuing years.

There are more than 80 locations of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill open or coming soon across the country, according to the chain’s website.

“The Great Greek is a fast casual eatery offering a variety of customizable Mediterranean meal options with big, bold flavors and healthy ingredients – including olive oil, whole grains, lean proteins, tomatoes, fresh vegetables and spices like cardamom, mint and sumac – an incredible combination that the American Heart Association, famous TV doctors, and chefs everywhere have promoted as the most healthful way to eat,” a company description reads.

The Great Greek will join a growing number of new tenants at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, located at 2845 Center Valley Parkway in Upper Saucon.

Retailers and restaurant joining the center in 2023 include Club Champion, a custom golf club fitting company; Turning Point, a breakfast and lunch restaurant; FD Market, a sustainable-goods and refillery store; Batch Microcreamery, offering super premium, hand-crafted ice cream; Handmade Mystic, offering healing crystals, hand-crafted jewelry and unique gifts; and Love Obsessed, offering women's clothing, jewelry, accessories and unique gifts.

Additionally, Fulton Bank - offering a broad array of financial products and services in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia - in January opened its newest Lehigh Valley branch at The Promenade Shops, and a new J.Crew Factory store is expected to open this spring in a roughly 5,100-square-foot space between Francesca's and Barnes & Noble.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A narrow band of heavy snow blanketed parts of the Lehigh Valley overnight, dumping up to 14 inches in some parts of the region while others received just 4 or 5.

Folks who went to bed expecting a few inches awoke to more than a foot of snow.

“I completely understand the shock factor,” said Mike Lee, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. “One thing was that the snowflakes themselves were, simply put, gigantic. They looked like the size of cotton balls.”

Parts of Lehigh and Northampton counties were in a 15-mile-wide band that moved from Berks County eastward into Middlesex County, New Jersey, Lee said.

At 5.2" measured in just one hour, this was the greatest snowfall rate measurement we've received so far from the heavy band of snow that developed from Berks County eastward into New Jersey toward Raritan Bay. Numerous reports of 2" to 4" in one hour. Very impressive! ?? #PAwx https://t.co/JtalFMaz9B

— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) February 17, 2024

Center Valley and Macungie recorded almost 14 inches of snow by 4:30 a.m., according to the weather service. Whitehall got 4.5 inches, and 5.7 inches were reported at Lehigh Valley International Airport at 7 a.m.

“It was a very narrow band with 3, 4, 5 inches of snow per hour,” Lee said. “You’re going to get some wild numbers in the Lehigh Valley for sure. That band definitely hogged all of the storm’s energy.”

Areas outside the band got anywhere from 3 to 5 inches, Lee estimated. The heaviest snowfall began around 1:30 a.m., he said.

Mike Lee, National Weather Service meteorologist

Early in the morning, PennDOT reduced speed limits to 45 mph on several highways and interstates, including Interstate 78, Route 22 and Route 33. State officials lifted those restrictions and restored normal speed limits just before 10 a.m.

LANTA made several adjustments to its schedule. Bus service was being delayed until 10 a.m. and will operate on emergency route service the rest of the day. Van service is delayed until 10 a.m. and will only run dialysis trips. Flex service is canceled.

In Easton, organizers were going ahead with a polar plunge in the Delaware River. One of the organizers, Julie Benjamin, said up to 900 plungers were registered at the fundraiser at Scott Park for Special Olympics Pennsylvania.

Here are snowfall totals reported by the National Weather Service:

Lehigh CountyCenter Valley: 13 inches at 4:19 a.m.Macungie: 13.7 inches at 3:57 a.m.Emmaus: 12.8 inches at 8 a.m.Breinigsville: 9 inches at 7:40 a.m.South Allentown: 12.1 inches at 7:20 a.m.Upper Saucon Township: 8 inches at 1:56 a.m.Lehigh Valley International Airport: 5.7 inches at 7 a.m.New Tripoli: 4.5 inches at 7 a.m.Whitehall Township: 4.5 inches at 7 a.m.Schnecksville: 4 inches at 8 a.m.

Northampton CountyHellertown: 11.8 inches at 4:08 a.m.North Catasauqua at 4.8 inches at 5:30 a.m.Bangor: 3.5 inches at 7:45 a.m.Danielsville: 3.5 inches at 7:59 a.m.Moore Township: 3.3 inches at 7:30 a.m.Martins Creek: 3.1 inches at 7 a.m.

Other spotsJim Thorpe: 3 inches at 6:45 a.m.Lehighton: 3.4 inches at 7 a.m.Mount Pocono: 3.1 inches at 7 a.m.Pennsburg: 5 inches at 4:54 a.m.Willow Grove: 2.3 inches at 5:41 a.m.Norristown: 1 inch at 2 a.m.Philadelphia (Northeast): 3.5 inches at 7 a.m.

UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. – A popular restaurant chain is planning to open its first Lehigh Valley location next week at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley.

Turning Point, an award-winning breakfast, lunch and brunch restaurant with more than 20 locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, will hold soft opening on Monday, Sept. 18, at the Upper Saucon Township shopping center, according to a company spokesperson.

A grand opening celebration will be held 9-10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19, with the ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place at 9:30 a.m.

The 4,449-square-foot restaurant will be located near UBreakIFix and Playa Bowls at the open-air center, 2845 Center Valley Parkway.

“We are incredibly happy to welcome Turning Point to The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley," said Natalia Stezenko, general manager of the shopping center. "The addition of this well-known and very popular regional eatery is something we are sure our shoppers will embrace and yet another step in elevating our rapidly growing tenant roster. Significant and very positive changes have been taking place at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley; in recent months, we have added a number of exceptional new tenants, the beginning of many changes yet to come.”

Turning Point, "using exceptional ingredients to deliver carefully crafted menu selections that are made-to-order and delivered in a warm and inviting setting," offers pancakes such as cinnamon roll and peppermint hot chocolate (hot cocoa cakes topped with crushed peppermint, marshmallows and a mint chocolate cream drizzle); waffles such as southern chicken and tropical crunch (bananas, strawberries, mango, granola and warm strawberry reduction); omelets such as Key West shrimp and smoked salmon; and sandwiches such as a chicken pesto panini, Pavo Cubano and roadhouse bacon stack (triple stack grilled cheese on sourdough bread with smokehouse aioli, cheddar jack, thick crispy bacon, caramelized onions, tomato and baby spinach).

Other "eggstraordinary dishes" include a classic pork roll "Sammy" (toasted bagel, Taylor pork roll, two over-hard eggs and American cheese with side of potatoes or citrus-tossed greens), Wilbur skillet (skillet of potatoes, crushed bacon, avocado, diced tomato, jack cheese and two eggs your way with English muffin) and barbacoa Benedict (cornbread, beef barbacoa, sliced avocado and caramelized onions, topped with two poached eggs and honey sriracha hollandaise; served with choice of citrus dressed mixed greens or breakfast potatoes).

Customers also can enjoy French press coffees, including Hawaiian Kona and Jamaican Blue Mountain blends, along with other specialty beverages such as cold-brew iced coffee, old-fashioned milkshakes, "Tropical Bliss" fruit smoothies, "Annie's Lemonade" (frozen pink lemonade blended with strawberries), "Just Beet It' juice (red beets, carrot, orange, apple, pineapple and ginger) and espresso drinks such as a French toast latte and salted caramel mocha-chino.

“This will be our first restaurant in the Lehigh Valley area, something we are very excited about,” said Kirk Ruoff, founder and CEO of Turning Point. “We absolutely love the energy of the shopping center, and the surrounding retailers and restaurants will make wonderful co-tenants. Based on the popularity of our dishes in other areas throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, we are sure our breakfast and lunch menu will resonate with the residents of Center Valley and the surrounding areas, and we look forward to welcoming each and every one of them as they become regular customers.”

Turning Point currently has eight Pennsylvania restaurants, including locations in Bucks and Montgomery counties.

The restaurants' culinary teams cook the meals to order, making it possible to make modifications for diet or personal preference to any dish.

Other menu highlights include salads such as "Martha's Vineyard" (mixed greens, grilled chicken, seasonal berries, mango, toasted coconut and honey walnuts) and starters such as avocado toast, turkey chili and bacon lollipops (brown sugar-dipped, smoked bacon wrapped over a slow-roasted skewered apple).

Turning Point will join more than a half dozen other Promenade Shops restaurants, including Bar Louie, Kome Fine Japanese Cuisine, Melt, Playa Bowls, Red Robin, Starbucks, Top Cut, Torre and White Orchids Thai Cuisine.

The restaurant also will join a slew of other new tenants at The Promenade Shops.

Businesses setting up shop in 2023 include FD Market, a sustainable goods shop and zero-waste refillery; Handmade Mystic - Healing Crystals & Jewelry, selling healing crystals, hand-crafted jewelry and more; Batch Microcreamery, offering super premium, hand-crafted ice cream and other chilled treats such as floats, milkshakes and sundaes; and Love Obsessed, a trendy boutique offering women's clothing, jewelry, accessories and unique gift items.

Additionally, The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley’s new Promenade Pop-Up Shop is experiencing great momentum in helping local entrepreneurs and established online brands build a market in the brick-and-mortar world.

Sweet Diehl Boutique, a women’s fashion boutique founded by local entrepreneur Andrea Diehl and the center’s first Promenade Pop-Up Shop tenant, had such success that it has signed a year-long lease and will move into its own more permanent location, between L.L.Bean and Sweet & Sassy, in October.

Following close on its footsteps, four additional pop-up tenants – Spoon + Salt, Ivy & Ink, Threads by Gram and Blake Jewelers – have reserved spaces in the Promenade Pop-Up Shop from early October through the end of the year.

Another center vacancy also is being filled. Club Champion, a custom golf club fitting company with more than 120 locations worldwide, is set to open its first Lehigh Valley location in the fourth quarter of 2023 in a 2,668-square-foot space between Torre and GailGray Home Furnishings & Design.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill will be a 2,550-square-foot fast casual franchise that serves up authentically Mediterranean dishes with an emphasis on fresh flavors and healthy ingredients.

Est. Read Time: 2 mins

The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley in Center Valley will welcome an eatery that offers visitors a taste of Greece and more this summer.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill will be a 2,550-square-foot fast casual franchise that serves up authentically Mediterranean dishes with an emphasis on fresh flavors and healthy ingredients.

Chris and Marcia Nagy, owners of the new location, said they were excited to learn that the space the restaurant will occupy–across from the AMC Center Valley 16 multiplex–was available.

“The location has great visibility, easy accessibility, a beautiful atmosphere, and we believe the customer base will love the delicious, fresh and healthy Mediterranean food,” said Chris Nagy.

In addition to a menu that features appetizers, soups, salads, wraps, gyros, a falafel pita and entrees like Grilled Lamb Souvlaki, the Great Greek Mediterranean Grill offers customizable meal options prepared with olive oil, whole grains, lean proteins, fresh vegetables, house-made sauces and spice blends. All items on the menu are prepared fresh-to-order, which company representatives said helps set the Great Greek Mediterranean Grill apart as a healthier alternative to traditional fast food restaurants.

Part of Starpoint Brands, which is a division of United Franchise Group, the franchise was founded in the Las Vegas area in 2011 by Nick Della Penna and Trent Jones, and has since grown to include more than 80 open or “coming soon” locations nationwide. The Promenade Shops location will be the first to open in Pennsylvania. Currently, the location nearest to the Lehigh Valley is in Florham Park, N.J.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill in the Promenade Shops is expected to open early this summer. The restaurant will be located between Kome Fine Japanese Cuisine and Lashes by Gab, and will join several other businesses that have recently opened or announced upcoming openings in the lifestyle center. Among those businesess are Fulton Bank, J. Crew Factory and Club Champion.

To learn more, visit TheGreatGreekGrill.com.

This local news story was reported with generative AI assistance.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, a Greek-inspired fast casual restaurant, is scheduled to open this summer at the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley.

“We saw a great space at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley for our restaurant and were delighted when we learned it was available,” Chris Nagy, owner of the restaurant at Saucon Valley, said in a news release. “The location has great visibility, easy accessibility, a beautiful atmosphere, and we believe the customer base will love the delicious, fresh, and healthy Mediterranean food.”

The 2,550-square-foot restaurant is set for a space between Lashes by Gab and Kome Fine Japanese Cuisine.

The franchise itself is young but rapidly expanding. The Great Greek was started in 2016 by neighbors Nick Della Penna and Trent Jones in the greater Las Vegas area, who took over a small Greek eatery and began franchising it soon afterward. By 2023, the franchise expanded to 25 locations in 12 states. The Saucon Valley location is the first to be announced in Pennsylvania. Including the new restaurant, it will be the 81st planned location of The Great Greek.

The Great Greek fulfills a customer hunger for faster, healthier options at the open air mall in Upper Saucon Township. “We are excited to welcome The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill to our rapidly expanding collection of top retailers and coveted restaurants at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley,” Natalia Stezenko, senior general manager for the shopping center, said in a news release. “Our guests have expressed an interest in having us add more health-conscious dining options, something that The Great Greek expertly brings to the table.”

The restaurant will feature fast casual versions of Greek specialties. Customers can expect gyros, wraps, pita sandwiches and more. Appetizers include a variety of dips including hummus and tirokafteri, a Greek feta and spicy roasted pepper dip. Those looking to grab-and-go can get a Greek salad wrap, which takes the brand’s hearty mix of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, feta, chickpeas, olives, and tzatziki and stuffs it into a travel-friendly wrap; additional protein options such as chicken, falafel, gyro or shrimp may be ordered to amp it up. For a more sit down experience, souvlaki plates featuring grilled chicken, steak or Australian lamb aside a bed of rice pilaf and a choice between french fries or The Great Greek’s specialty feta fries. Vegetarian, dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free options will be available as well.

The Great Greek joins recently announced new shops at the Promenade, including J. Crew, which plans to open in the coming months as well.