The local restaurant scene is heating up with new restaurants opening or moving to new locations. But nothing is hotter right now than the hot chicken trend.
New businesses
Three hot chicken restaurants open in Luzerne County
Shams Hot Chicken’s opening of a new location in Kingston on Feb. 1 was so anticipated that people camped out to be the first to experience it — helped along by a raffle of a PlayStation video game system, 55-inch TV, cash and other gift cards.
“It’s going really well. We constantly have many customers. Every single day, it’s been pretty packed,” 21-year-old owner Shams Said said.
This success could be expected as the business did so well since its opening last year in the Sunoco Gas station at Wyoming Avenue and Northampton Street in Kingston that this larger location had to be found at the former Dagwood’s Deli at 418 Market St., Kingston.
“It’s unique. The flavor is what matters and the experience we try to give them,” Said said of his recipes. “I try to make every platter look in a way I would want to eat it, too, and it goes out picture perfect.” Said explained he makes his chicken featuring a unique Pakistani flavor with a variety of levels of spice from mild to inferno.
Tariq Shah, who also is opening a hot chicken sandwich shop in Luzerne County, noted, “Hot chicken is very popular in Wilkes-Barre and in places like New Jersey and New York.”
His Asad’s Hot Chicken is opening in March in the Wilkes Plaza at 200 Wilkes-Barre Twp. Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Twp., in the former Little Mexico storefront.
Shah has a lot of experience in the chicken business as a former longtime employee of Crown Fried Chicken on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre and opening his own location on the Sans Souci Parkway in Hanover Twp. in fall 2020. Now he is throwing his hat in the ring with a hot chicken location.
“Wilkes Barre Twp. is a busy location. We think we will have a good response,” Shah said.
Mike’s Hot Chicken, which opened Super Bowl Sunday at 295 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, is seeing its share of success as well.
“We just wanted to sell a few sandwiches a day. It turned into 100s overnight,” the restaurant posted on Facebook recently. “Thank you NEPA for the chance to serve you right.”
Mike’s Hot Chicken, which has been offering several promotions since its opening, including gift card giveaways and hosting a wing contest, points to frying in 100% beef tallow for added favor and specialty offerings like chicken and waffles as features that set it apart from other restaurants.
These three Luzerne County restaurants join national chain Dave’s Hot Chicken, which opened at 700 Commerce Boulevard in Dickson City in May 2025.
The future Goodness Bowls location at 434 Lackawanna Ave. in downtown Scranton on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Goodness Bowls opening in Scranton
If you are looking for something on the lighter side, your wait is almost over, as Goodness Bowls is set to open in late March at 434 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton.
Jeff and Erin Costanzo, of Clarks Summit, discovered Goodness Bowls on vacations to Avalon, New Jersey, and liked it so much they asked its operators if they were interested in expanding to the Scranton area. The business already has locations in Greater Philadelphia along with the flagship store in New Jersey.
“We’re hoping to fill a need,” Jeff said. “I feel like there is a big desire for healthy foods, and I feel like options are really limited, especially in the downtown area. We’re hoping to provide more natural, healthy, lighter eating options.”
Jeff teased the possibility of opening additional locations in the area — potentially Dickson City, Clarks Summit or Honesdale — depending on the response in Scranton.
Goodness Bowls specializes in a variety of smoothies along with açai, pitaya, banana, green, coconut and specialty bowls; salads and wraps and specialty coffees.
Italian Pub Meatball & More opens two locations
A taste of Italy is coming to Northeast Pennsylvania through two new eateries in Lackawanna County.
Benny Dzurlic opened Italian Pub Meatball & More at 414 Biden St. in downtown Scranton in early February and plans to open a second location at 978 Main St., Blakely, in March.
The restaurants will offer four types of homemade meatballs — beef, pork and beef, seafood and vegetarian — served with a choice of marinara, spicy tomato, mushroom sherry wine crème or vodka sauce with penne, rigatoni or linguine. Dinners cost $14 to $18. Pasta and chicken dishes, as well as fresh clams and seafood, also are on the menu.
“I’m just looking to give something to the people that is a little more cost effective. Good food and at a reasonable price, so they’re more comfortable going out,” said Dzurlic, a restauranter for more than 30 years who also operates Scranton restaurants Catch 21 Seafood & Steak, Sambuca Italian Grille & Bar, and Mangia Bistro & Bar.
Cilantro Bar and Grill opens in Hazle Twp.
Cilantro Bar and Grill, which opened Feb. 12 at 620 Hillside Dr., Hazle Twp., offers fine dinning with an international flair.
The restaurant boasts a multi-cultural menu with items from around the world, designed by 30-year chef Carmelo Maria, who descends from the Dominican Republic. Dishes include grilled octopus, handmade gnocchi and churrasco skirt steak and more. There also is an extensive list of drinks and cocktails, paired with a tapas menu, prepared by Jose Fetterolf, general manager and bartender with 38 years of experience.
“It was important to my brother and me that we give a great restaurant option to the Latino community here,” said Yhoandy Del Jesus, one of the owners of Cilantro alongside his brother, Alver. “We saw there was a real hunger for high-end cultural food in Hazleton, and we think we’ll be ready to fill it.”
Del Jesus hopes the restaurant becomes a place for the community to gather, where guest can relax in the art deco dinning room.
“On Friday and Saturday evenings, this place will be a lounge for people to unwind in. Then, on weekend mornings, we’ll be open with a brunch menu for people to start the day with us, too.”
Toastee Bagels expands to Lackawanna County
A new eatery serving made-from-scratch, boiled and baked Jersey-style bagels will provide another breakfast and lunch option in the Abingtons.
Neil Patel — who launched a Toastee Bagels location along Route 315 in Plains Twp. in January — intends to open the South Abington Twp. store on Northern Boulevard at the former Rainbow Market site by late May or early June.
In addition to about a dozen varieties of bagels, ranging from plain to blueberry and jalapeño cheddar, the business also features many spread flavors, including strawberry, scallion, vegetable, lox and cinnamon raisin. It also serves breakfast sandwiches.
Patel, who opened his first store in 1996 in New Jersey, said Toastee Bagels is a family-run business as his wife, Stephanie, a Catawissa area native, and their two older daughters, Zoe and Mercedes, prove critical to the operation. He hopes his son, Jaxson, 12, will express interest in helping out down the road.
Patel owns a bagel shop in Mountain Top that will eventually convert to the Toastee Bagels brand and he plans to open a a Toastee Bagels in the Dallas/Shavertown area later this year.
Location changes and comebacks
Ghigiarelli’s plans to reopen in Old Forge
There are plans to reopen Ghigiarelli’s Restaurant, the popular Old Forge staple that closed nearly 10 years ago.
The planned reopening marks not just the return of an eatery serving up its signature pizza and other Italian food, but the overcoming of a history marked by the 2017 murder of the family’s beloved patriarch Robert Baron, which forced the restaurant’s closure.
The case remained unsolved until Justin Schuback was arrested in March 2023, after authorities cracked the case with cellphone data that showed his phone at key locations at the time of Baron’s murder. A jury convicted Schuback of first degree murder, burglary and robbery in connection with the killing.
No date has been set for the reopening, which the family announced recently on Facebook.
“Thank you for your continuous support throughout the years even while we’ve been closed! Keep an eye out for updates on an opening date for take out,” the post read.
Ace Hardware returns to Hanover Mall
Ace Hardware will return to the Hanover Mall along the Sans Souci Parkway in Hanover Twp. in April. A R&H Ace Hardware store operated in the mall for several years before closing in January 2013.
The newest Gerrity’s Ace Hardware will be the seventh franchise opened in the region by the Fasula family, which also owns and operates Gerrity’s Supermarkets in the area, including one in the Hanover Mall a few storefronts down from the new hardware store. Other Gerrity’s hardware stores are located in Carbondale, Clarks Summit, Peckville, Scranton, Shavertown and West Pittston.
The 16,000-square-foot store is in the location occupied by Goodwill for several years. The Goodwill store is relocating to a nearby long vacant storefront once occupied by Weis Markets.
The hardware store is tentatively scheduled to open on April 6, with a grand opening celebration planned for later in the month.
“My favorite part of opening a new store is when we do the ribbon cutting, we do it hardware store-style. We get a two-by-four, paint it red, and cut it with a chainsaw,” said Joe Fasula, owner of Gerrity’s Ace Hardware.
Adelina’s closing Wilkes-Barre eatery, returning to Mountain Top
Adelina’s Restaurant and Pizzeria, which has operated in a temporary location in Best Western Plus Genetti Hotel and Conference Center in Wilkes-Barre for the past several months, is returning to its original location in Mountain Top.
A May 2025 fire forced the popular Wright Twp. eatery to close and Gus Genetti, a longtime customer, offered space in his downtown hotel until the owners could rebuild.
“Since being in Wilkes-Barre, we have met so many amazing new friends and they already have become family. We have been blessed to serve them over these past few months,” the owners said in a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
Adelina’s last day in Wilkes-Barre will be March 14. Gift cards not redeemed in Wilkes-Barre will be accepted at the Mountain Top location.
“We can’t wait to see everyone back on the mountain,” the owners said. “And to all of our new Wilkes-Barre friends, we truly hope to see you on the mountain as well.”
Januzzi’s closes Exeter location, plans to open elsewhere
Januzzi’s Pizza, which operated a shop at 1100 Wyoming Ave. in Exeter for 20 years, closed the day after Valentine’s Day, giving customers one last chance to get the shop’s popular heart-shaped pizza.
“Some things just aren’t meant for forever. After spending 20 business years on Wyoming Avenue, we will be moving,” the shop posted on Facebook.
Januzzi’s plans to reopen in the area but a new location hasn’t been announced. Januzzi’s also operates shops in Wilkes-Barre and Mountain Top.
Former Brunetti’s deli in Green Ridge getting new operator
A recently posted Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board placard at the former Brunetti’s Pizza and Deli on Sanderson Avenue in Green Ridge says a transfer of the establishment’s liquor license to One Kripa LLC is underway for an “eating place” there.
Brunetti’s had long been a Green Ridge mainstay and landmark, having celebrated 62 years days before the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a statewide business shutdown. Brunetti’s later did some front-door pickups but never fully reopened, ultimately closing in July 2020.
Later, Dutchie’s, a take-away business offering subs and pizza, operated at the location under Scranton-native Jim Mayer before closing in November 2025
Efforts to reach One Kripa LLC were not immediately unsuccessful.
Closings
Eddie Bower closing in Wilkes-Barre Twp.
Eddie Bauer in the Arena Hub Plaza is closing after the retail operator filed for bankruptcy last month. An employee said closure was set for April but may be earlier depending on the amount of inventory remaining. Signs say gift cards must be used by March 12.
The operator of roughly 180 stores across the U.S. and Canada filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, blaming declining sales, according to the Associated Press.
While the store continues operation it is offering sales of at least 40% to 60% off.
Two Gals Pizza & Subs closes in Wilkes-Barre
Super Bowl Sunday was the final day of business for Two Gals Pizza & Subs, located at 171 E. Main St. in Wilkes-Barre.
“We want to thank every one of our customers that supported us over 31 years. The time had come to retire and maybe begin a new journey. It was a hard decision, but it’s a bittersweet ending,” the owners said in a post on Facebook.
Wilkes-Barre Councilman Bill Barrett said the shop has been in the neighborhood as long as he can remember.
“Every time I drive by, there are always cars there with people getting takeouts,” Barrett said. “They have good pizza, good stromboli; everything they make is good. They’re going to be missed.”
Owner Karen Halliday didn’t immediately return requests for comment
Owner Bern Giovannucci at her store B’s Floral Design in downtown Scranton on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
B’s Floral Design closing in Scranton
B’s Floral Design on Penn Avenue in Scranton is closing.
Owner Bern Giovannucci, 74, decided to retire to travel, enjoy hobbies and spend time with family after being a part of so many other families’ holidays, weddings, graduations and other celebrations.
“I get to know their names and I get to know the person. And then when you see their face coming in, they’re smiling and they’re happy,” Giovannucci said. “Knowing that you just made somebody’s day, that’s the best part of this job.”
Giovannucci got her start working at Greg Novak Floral Design, learning the business and ultimately taking over in 2005 and renaming it B’s Floral Design. During that time, she has been very active in the community, creating a golden broom that was passed from businesses to business as an award for keeping their businesses in pristine condition, noted Leslie Collins, president and CEO of Scranton Tomorrow.
Giovannucci is having a retirement sale offering deals on vases, candles and season decoration and other shop items until around mid-March.