FORKS TWP., Pa. – A one-time hot spot for burgers, ice cream and other tasty treats is finding new life in Northampton County.
Zekraft, a locally owned and operated cafe concept that “makes and curates well-crafted food and kitchen items” using ingredients from the Lehigh Valley and surrounding region, has leased the former Richard’s Drive-In property at 1550 Sullivan Trail in Forks Township for use as the business’ central kitchen and an additional cafe location.
A new Zekraft cafe location is expected to open in mid-May at 1550 Sullivan Trail in Forks Township.
Ryan Kneller
The Forks cafe, with interior seating for a dozen guests and seasonal outdoor seating for an additional 20 guests, is expected to open in mid-May, co-owner Elaine Zelker told 69 News.
It will occupy an updated space that was previously home to a Richard’s Drive-In location, which closed a couple years ago after nearly two decades of business.
Since January, the new central kitchen has been up and running for Zekraft’s catering, farmers market appearances and home meal delivery services.
It also helps to supply food and drinks for Zekraft’s two existing cafe locations inside Capital Blue at Promenade Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon Township and Lehigh Valley International Airport’s Wilfred M. “Wiley” Post Concourse, beyond the TSA Checkpoint, in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.
In Forks, Zekraft is operating on a busy stretch of Sullivan Trail, between Mediterranean Deli and Wanderlust Beer Garden.
Ryan Kneller
“We can’t wait to welcome the community inside,” Zelker said in regard to the forthcoming Forks cafe.
“I feel like this could turn out to be our busiest location. We’ve already been having a lot of people stop in to see if we’re open.”
The Zekraft team was previously utilizing kitchen space at The Factory on Columbia Street in south Bethlehem, but that property was recently sold to Bethlehem Area School District for expansion of Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School.
In Forks, Zekraft occupies a renovated space featuring new kitchen equipment, wall paint, furniture and more.
The team is currently in the process of having the illuminated building signage and roadside signage installed.
The soon-to-open cafe is still hiring for cafe manager, barista and kitchen roles, and individuals interested in applying for a position should send an e-mail to info@zekraft.com.
Zekraft co-owner Zeke Zelker poses outside the business’ new location at 1550 Sullivan Trail in Forks Township. The new location serves as Zekraft’s central kitchen, and it soon will also be home to another Zekraft cafe.
Ryan Kneller
Zelker and her husband, Zeke Zelker, started Zekraft in summer 2020. At the time, they were utilizing a commercial kitchen to offer weekly delivery of “consciously prepared restaurant quality meals” to Lehigh Valley residents.
The business continues to offer home meal delivery, along with cafe operations, catering, special events and sales at local farmers markets, including the Easton Farmers’ Market on Saturdays and the Emmaus Farmers’ Market on Sundays.
At Zekraft’s cafes, customers can enjoy a variety of freshly prepared eats, including soups, salads and breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Specialty coffee drinks, teas, smoothies and desserts are also featured.
The business sources ingredients from local farms and producers, including Patriot Farms, The Flour Shop, Apple Ridge Farm, Raspberry Ridge Creamery and Nello’s Specialty Meats, among others.
Husband and wife Zeke and Elaine Zelker started Zekraft in summer 2020.
Zekraft
“Community minded, we’re inspired by the bountiful farms and artisanal creators that make our area unique,” Zekraft’s mission statement reads. “We select consciously sourced items, cognizant of offering a more healthful option, realizing that we all need to indulge from time to time.”
Zekraft aims to incorporate fresh, seasonal ingredients from local businesses as much as possible, with other partnering farms and producers including Scholl’s Orchards and Salvatera’s Gardens, Elaine added.
Home delivery options regularly rotate, but popular recurring picks include Thai peanut chicken salad, meat loaf, banana pudding and a variety of fresh pastries.
“Our biggest push this year is that we want people to know that eating well shouldn’t be hard,” Elaine said.
“Everything we offer at Zekraft is sourced locally, homemade and fresh. Nothing’s frozen. Even our coffee, sauces and syrups are homemade. We make our own caramel sauce, lavender syrup, etc. It’s all from scratch.”
In Forks, customers can expect a wide array of made-to-order and grab-and-go options, including artisan soups, salads and breakfast and lunch sandwiches.
Hours are still being finalized, but the Forks cafe will likely be open for breakfast and lunch service daily, Zeke said.
Ryan Kneller
“We’ll have a semi-open kitchen, and so people will really feel like they’re part of the action,” Elaine added.
“We’re also going to be pastry-heavy, with items like cookies, muffins, cakes and scones. Of course, we’ll also have our entire line of coffees, teas, homemade chai, matcha drinks and desserts like banana pudding and chocolate pot de crème. We’ll also have some ready-to-go meals, all made from scratch on-site.”
Zekraft previously operated cafe locations on South New Street in south Bethlehem, at the Simon Silk Mill in Easton and on South Cedar Crest Boulevard in Salisbury Township, and the Zelkers are excited to debut their newest cafe location at a prominent former restaurant site situated on a busy stretch of roadway.
The Zelkers, who live about four miles away from the cafe in Forks, have fond memories of frequenting Richard’s Drive-In with their children in the mid-2000s.
“It’s pretty iconic,” Elaine said. “My family and I still call it Richard’s. It’s going to be hard to call it Zekraft now.”
Zekraft’s focus on fresh food made with local, seasonal ingredients helps it stand out in the Lehigh Valley cafe scene, and the Zelkers are excited to serve healthful and tasty options to even more people at the Forks location.
Ryan Kneller
The business also proves a stark contrast to nearby locations of various coffee shop chains, Elaine said.
“We’re not opening [in Forks] to be competition,” she added. “People who know, like and trust Zekraft know the difference between fresh, homemade and locally sourced food compared to stuff coming from a frozen box.”
For the latest Zekraft updates, including an official opening announcement for the Forks cafe, follow the business’ pages on Facebook and Instagram. Info: zekraft.com.