BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A spring scorcher with temperatures soaring into the 80’s, leaving April showers in the dust.
The warm weather is unexpected for this time of year, but welcome for local restaurants still recovering from a brutal winter.
People in Bethlehem dressed in shorts and short sleeves in mid-April, and businesses are trying to take advantage of the situation.
The Cup has been serving up treats in Bethlehem for 90 years and boasts of being the city’s preferred ice cream for 50 years. On Tuesday, they had weather fitting of a favorite.
A simple serving for Jeff Vogel, celebrating his birthday at The Cup.
“Yeah, we actually just came from Marblehead Chowder House, so this is dessert,” said Vogel.
While business is spiking at The Cup, over at Urbano Mexicano, sun seekers are sitting out on the sidewalk, while afternoon specials are enticing people to relax a little longer.
“Everyone always comes for our margaritas and our fresh-made guac,” said Josi Rivera, assistant manager at Urbano Mexicano. “We do Taco Tuesday, so we have $3 tacos mix-and-match however you want, so that also brings a crowd for Tuesdays.”
Rivera says the early warm weather prepares the staff for the summer.
Back at The Cup, they’re serving up cones all year-round. But the warm weather brings a different vibe.
“It cools them off. Who wouldn’t be happy getting an ice cream or a milkshake?” said Marietta Zwiefel, an employee at The Cup.
Great weather is expected with above-average temperatures through the weekend, and it’s still 68 days until summer.