SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – A popular mom-and-pop business is brewing a new tasty venture in Lehigh County.
Onward Coffee, a mobile coffee shop offering a wide array of classic and specialty drinks, is expanding operations with its first brick-and-mortar location – set to open in September – at 3900 Hamilton Blvd. in South Whitehall Township, Co-Owner Scarlett Allunis told 69 News.
The first brick-and-mortar location of Onward Coffee is coming soon to 3900 Hamilton Blvd. in South Whitehall Township.
Ryan Kneller
The new cafe will operate near Bixlers jewelry store in The Shops at 3900 Hamilton, across from Dorney Park.
It will occupy a soon-to-be-renovated space that previously housed the Paperbag, a former greeting card and stationery store that closed in January after more than 40 years.
Allunis and her husband, Steve Kemper, established Onward Coffee as a mobile operation in November 2024.
Husband and wife Steve Kemper and Scarlett Allunis are pictured in front of their mobile coffee trailer, Onward Coffee.
Onward Coffee
Over the past year and a half, the Emmaus couple has brought the coffee trailer to local businesses and various public and private events, garnering a large and loyal following along the way.
The duo looks forward to serving even more individuals with a brick-and-mortar location, tentatively set to operate 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, Allunis said.
The new cafe will feature indoor seating, including lounge furniture and roughly six dining tables, along with a couple of outdoor tables, Allunis said.
“We’re very excited,” Allunis said about Onward’s forthcoming expansion.
“By starting mobile, we were able to find our community, and that’s been a really positive experience for us. We love serving such an amazing community that shows us so much support.”
Onward’s new brick-and-mortar location will offer the same drink menu that’s been featured on the trailer, along with rotating specials and a new food menu, Allunis said.
Onward Coffee
The business, which sources locally roasted coffee from Allentown-based Mad Catter Coffee Roasters, offers classic coffee drinks such as a cappuccino, cortado, Americano, latte, red eye and double espresso.
Customers also can enjoy specialty hot drinks such as a chai latte and honey lavender latte and iced drinks such as a PB & Shea Latte and an espresso tonic with dehydrated lemon.
“We are known for our banana foster blondie,” Allunis said.
“People definitely come for our banana foster blondie, as well as our Spanish latte and butterscotch cold brew, which are also top sellers.”
The new brick-and-mortar cafe also will offer matcha beverages as well as fruit-flavored refresher drinks, Allunis said.
Additionally, a new food menu will be developed by Kemper, a classically trained executive chef with more than a decade of professional culinary experience.
Kemper previously worked in the kitchens of prominent local restaurants, including Mister Lee’s Noodles in the Lehigh Valley and GoFish! Seafood Market & Sushi Bar in Sinking Spring, and he plans to lead the new cafe’s culinary team in preparing various sweet and savory items for breakfast and lunch, Allunis said.
The food menu is still being finalized, but individuals can expect a variety of made-to-order handhelds, among other items, Allunis added.
Onward Coffee, a mobile coffee shop offering a wide array of classic and specialty drinks, is expanding operations with its first brick-and-mortar location – set to open in September – at 3900 Hamilton Blvd. in South Whitehall Township.
Ryan Kneller
Baked goods sourced from a local baker also will be available.
“We’ll be open every day, from 6:30 to 2,” Allunis said. “So, there will definitely be some breakfast sandwiches as well as some light lunch offerings, probably some salads and maybe some grain bowls and wraps, too.”
Kemper and Allunis plan to continue operating Onward Coffee’s mobile trailer following the brick-and-mortar location’s opening.
Currently, the couple sets up shop outside of popular local businesses such as Kiddie Academy and Swim-in Zone in Center Valley, along with other venues such as the Coopersburg Farmers Market.
They are good friends with Brittany Morse, owner of barre3 fitness facilities in Bethlehem and South Whitehall Township, where the trailer also regularly serves customers.
“When Brittany heard Paperbag was closing due to the owner retiring, she recommended us to the landlord, and the rest is history,” Allunis said.
“… After the cafe opens, we’ll likely reduce the trailer schedule, but we definitely plan on returning to the Coopersburg Farmers Market. We have a really great community there. We’ll also continue doing events like weddings, showers and other events of that nature.”
Allunis and Kemper announced Onward Coffee’s forthcoming cafe in late May on the business’ social media pages.
The couple expressed their excitement in creating a “space where you feel welcome to stay.”
Husband and wife Steve Kemper and Scarlett Allunis are pictured in their mobile coffee trailer, Onward Coffee.
Onward Coffee
“There are so many emotions wrapped into this- excitement, nervousness, asking ourselves… are we really ready for this?” they stated in the online post.
“This has been in the works for nearly six months, and as scary as this next step is, deep in our bones, it feels right. And that’s because of you. You showed up for us day in and day out. You told your friends about us. You stood in line in the rain, the cold, and everything in between. Your support and encouragement, gave us the confidence to take this leap.”
For the latest Onward Coffee updates, including future announcements regarding the new café, follow the business’ pages on Facebook and Instagram. Info: onwardcoffeepa.com.