ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A popular spot for food and drinks is making a comeback in Lehigh County.
Love’s Restaurant & Lounge, a venue offering American pub fare along with craft cocktails and nightlife entertainment at 1019 Union Blvd. in Allentown, has been temporarily closed since a fire damaged the property in late January.
Love’s Restaurant & Lounge is located at 1019 Union Blvd. in Allentown.
Ryan Kneller
The fire was small and caused minor damage, primarily to the property’s lower level, owner Bazz Jarjous told 69 News.
Electrical upgrades and cosmetic updates, including the addition of new lighting and lounge furniture, have been completed, and Jarjous and the Love’s team now aim to reopen the business within the next couple of weeks.
“We’re trying to reopen on Friday, Oct. 23, but we haven’t finalized that yet,” Jarjous said. “It should definitely be within the next couple of weeks.”
Love’s opened in April 2024 in a renovated space that previously housed other dining establishments, including Top Diner and, most recently, East Side Family Restaurant.
“We put a lot of work into the building, menu and overall atmosphere because we saw a need for this type of venue in the community,” Jarjous told 69 News shortly after the business’ opening.
“We’re offering elevated food, cocktails and nightlife.”
Jarjous is no stranger to the restaurant industry.
He previously operated East Side Family Restaurant at the site from 2019 to 2023, and he’s also a former owner of East Siders Bar & Grill on Union Boulevard on Allentown’s East Side and Cuzin’s Pub & Grill on Tilghman Street in Allentown’s West End.
Before opening Love’s, a team of contractors spent nearly a year updating the Union Boulevard property to include new flooring, ceilings, lighting, furniture, bars, bathrooms, kitchen equipment, and a front patio with folding glass doors that open during nice weather.
Love’s also features new high-definition TVs, along with a digital jukebox and sound system.
Modern design touches include an illuminated bar, a photo op wall, and various color-changing LED lights throughout the space.
Love’s Restaurant & Lounge is located at 1019 Union Blvd. in Allentown.
Ryan Kneller
The rear portion, which previously housed a bar and nightlife area, was “completely overhauled” with new flooring, accent walls, banquette and high-top seating, and LED lights on the walls and ceiling, Jarjous said. There’s also a new DJ booth.
Jarjous got the idea for Love’s from frequenting unique and vibrant restaurants and lounges in other parts of the country, including major cities in Florida and New York.
“I was always amazed at these out-of-state places, offering fantastic food and drinks in really cool atmospheres,” Jarjous said.
“They’re unlike anything that we have around here. So, I wanted to change that. I wanted to bring that elevated experience to the Lehigh Valley.”
In addition to updating physical components of the venue, Love’s is modifying its operations – with condensed food offerings and condensed hours – as it reopens, Jarjous said.
Love’s Restaurant & Lounge is located at 1019 Union Blvd. in Allentown.
Ryan Kneller
Guests will still be able to enjoy made-to-order appetizers such as chicken wings and fries as well as handhelds such as burgers, cheesesteaks, sandwiches and tacos, but entrees will no longer be available, Jarjous said.
Additionally, sushi will no longer be served, and a former sushi bar that was situated at the front of the venue was removed to make room for more lounge furniture.
Hours are still being finalized, but Love’s is tentatively set to operate from 7 or 8 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Sunday, Jarjous said.
“We’re going to be leaning more into the nightlife,” Jarjous added.
Love’s recently held hiring events, and all front- and back-of-house positions have been filled.
Love’s Restaurant & Lounge is located at 1019 Union Blvd. in Allentown.
Ryan Kneller
Some employees from Love’s original iteration are returning, and the business also recently held hiring events to fill remaining front- and back-of-house positions, Jarjous said.
For the latest Love’s updates, including an official reopening announcement, follow the business’ pages on Facebook and Instagram.