(Latest post in a series about Neighborhoods and Southside)
Ahhh, now here’s the info Gadfly was looking for when news of the state grant came out the other day.
Sounds good!
Bethlehem’s shuttered Starters Riverport, once the Lehigh Valley’s largest restaurant, could be home to a public market by spring.
The developers cast the Riverport Market as having a “clean, urban, industrial vibe” with about 35 vendors, a demonstration kitchen, anchor restaurant and a brewing tasting room sprawled across 24,000 square feet in part of what was once a former finishing mill that housed Bethlehem Steel’s alloy and tool division.
The market is expected to feature culture, music, art and culinary events daily. The hours would be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, with the restaurant and tasting room to be opened later.
The project, owned by Lehigh Riverport Investors Fund LP, is being developed by Lou Pektor of Ashley Development in Bethlehem. He was behind the Riverport redevelopment project 15 years ago. The old industrial building was converted into a multiuse project that included a garage, 172 condominiums and commercial space, including Starters. Starters closed six years ago and has been vacant since.
Mayor Robert Donchez said he believes the market to be a good fit in a neighborhood that includes the Banana Factory arts and education center, which will be undergoing an expansion, and new office buildings.
This is the big news among Lehigh staff in the building at 3d and New. We are absolutely delighted.