ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Freshly prepared eats and drinks will return to a prominent restaurant site in Lehigh County.
Lehigh Valley restaurateur Donny Petridis has signed a lease for 395 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. in Allentown.
The freestanding building, in The Shops at Cedar Point, was previously home to a TGI Fridays restaurant, which closed in 2024.
Petridis, who owns and operates The Shelby restaurant in Lower Macungie Township, has plans to open a new, yet-to-be-decided dining concept at the Allentown property.
A building that previously housed a TGI Fridays restaurant is pictured in The Shops at Cedar Point at 395 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. in Allentown.
Ryan Kneller
It would be a brand-new concept and not a second location of The Shelby.
“We’re working through concepts and plans of what we’re going to do,” Petridis told 69 News. “So, we haven’t quite decided yet.”
Petridis is a seasoned restaurateur, who’s launched a variety of well-known, full-service concepts in the area over the past 20-plus years.
He is a co-founder and former co-owner of Blue in Bethlehem Township and Melt in Upper Saucon Township, and he also was the original owner of the former Hamilton Kitchen & Bar in downtown Allentown.
In 2017, Petridis opened The Shelby, a new American restaurant with the tagline of “eat drink cheers,” at 707 N. Krocks Road Suite 104 in Lower Macungie.
The Shelby, a new American restaurant with the tagline of “eat drink cheers,” opened in 2017 at 707 N. Krocks Road Suite 104 in Lower Macungie Township.
Ryan Kneller
The Shelby, located at the Hamilton Crossings shopping center, invites guests to enjoy a fresh take on beloved American classics, where global influences and farm-fresh local ingredients come together to create memorable dining experiences.
Lunch and dinner highlights include starters such as house-cured wings, pomodoro mussels, beef birria poutine and roasted cauliflower fritters; salads such as beet, Greek, roasted broccoli and kale and squash; and sandwiches such as a hot crispy chicken, beer battered cod, turkey burger and Shelby burger (two 4-ounce beef patties, Shelby sauce, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles on a brioche bun).
A dozen main-course selections include pan-seared salmon, 16-ounce ribeye, bone-in pork chop, Italian sausage rigatoni and coconut tofu curry, among others.
Guests also can enjoy weekend brunch, with options such as churro French toast, strawberry shortcake waffle, lobster and asparagus Benedict, short rib hash, morning ramen and a breakfast chimichanga.
In 2024, The Shelby added a new, expansive outdoor dining area featuring lush greenery and a portion that can be enclosed during cold months.
The Shelby, a new American restaurant with the tagline of “eat drink cheers,” opened in 2017 at 707 N. Krocks Road Suite 104 in Lower Macungie Township.
Ryan Kneller
“With its cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and a menu bursting with mouthwatering dishes, it’s the perfect place to unwind and savor a delightful meal,” reads a restaurant description. “Our diverse menu caters to every palate, whether you’re looking for a leisurely dinner with loved ones, a quick lunch catch-up with friends, or a solo meal at the bar.”
In Allentown, Petridis’ new restaurant is in its early stages.
Renovations have not yet started at the former TGI Fridays spot, and Petridis is unsure when the new establishment would debut.
Still, he’s eager to bring a new dining concept to the Lehigh Valley.
“We’re very excited that we have it,” Petridis said in regard to the Allentown property.
“We think it’s a great location for another concept, and we’re working through everything as we speak to come up with a concept that we believe will work very well in that area.”
A building that previously housed a TGI Fridays restaurant is pictured in The Shops at Cedar Point at 395 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. in Allentown.
Ryan Kneller
A reference to the forthcoming restaurant came a couple of weeks ago at the Feb. 4 Allentown City Council meeting, where Council President Santo Napoli announced that the city had received a request for the transfer of a liquor license to The Felix Restaurant LLC at 395 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., the former TGI Fridays location.
A public hearing on the liquor license transfer has been scheduled for 6 p.m. March 4, which will be followed by a regular City Council meeting where a decision is expected.
The former Allentown location of TGI Fridays opened as part of the Shops at Cedar Point’s debut in 1996.
The shopping center is home to other restaurants and foodie hot spots, including Bamboo Asian Cuisine & Sushi Bar, Pho*Nom1nal Vietnamese Cuisine, Pines Dinner Theatre and Menchies.
Zahra, a Middle Eastern/Mediterranean concept, is expected to open at the shopping center in March, and a Seven Brew Coffee drive-thru coffee shop is also planned.