An upcoming cafe plans to bring a new home for Yemeni coffee, pastries and sense of community when it opens in Bethlehem.
Cafeena Coffee House will open late summer at 502 E. Third St. in Bethlehem, according to Jasmine Hasni, the store owner and the company’s marketing communications director.
It will replace a former Starbucks location and serve Yemeni coffee, teas, refreshers, cold brews, sabayah, honeycomb bread with Dubai chocolate, mousse fruit cakes, crepes and flatbreads.
“It’s a naturally complex coffee, it has notes of fruit, chocolate and spice,” Hasni said of Yemeni coffee, “one of the oldest coffee cultures in the world.”
The Bethlehem cafe will join other locations that will open throughout Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey and Florida for the Michigan-based Cafeena, which was established last year.
No locations have opened yet for Cafeena, and Hasni hopes hers will be the first. The goal is to open 50 locations in the next five years.
She explained that especially with her children’s Yemeni heritage, “this is part of our family’s culture … we want to show the community how Yemeni coffee is and how it brings people together. … We wanted to be in the heart of Bethlehem because Bethlehem is just known for community, and we want Cafeena Bethlehem to be a true third place where people actually gather, where they study, where they celebrate, where they collaborate.”
Hasni said the shop will be open from around 7 a.m. to around 9 p.m. all week, but that those hours can change seasonally. She also highlighted that the cafe may participate in supporting people fasting for Ramadan next year.
The Yemeni-inspired Caffeena Coffee House will open this summer in Bethlehem. (Rendering by Ayman Ebadi)
The Yemeni-inspired Caffeena Coffee House will open this summer in Bethlehem. (Rendering by Ayman Ebadi)
The Yemeni-inspired Caffeena Coffee House will open this summer in Bethlehem. (Rendering by Ayman Ebadi)The Yemeni-inspired Caffeena Coffee House will open this summer in Bethlehem. (Rendering courtesy of Jasmine Hasni)
The Yemeni-inspired Caffeena Coffee House will open this summer in Bethlehem. (Rendering by Ayman Ebadi)
The Yemeni-inspired Caffeena Coffee House will open this summer in Bethlehem. (Rendering by Ayman Ebadi)
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The Yemeni-inspired Caffeena Coffee House will open this summer in Bethlehem. (Rendering by Ayman Ebadi)
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Lehigh Valley retail and restaurant news in brief
Precision Cuts Barber Shop: The barbershop held a ribbon cutting ceremony April 19 for its new location at 204 Line St. in Easton, the Easton Business Association announced in a news release.
It previously operated at 466 Northampton St., but closed following the Hotel Hampton fire in February.
Tinto Tapas & Pasta: The Italian restaurant announced it will hold its last day on April 25 at 1028 Broadway in Fountain Hill. The restaurant said customers can use their gift certificates at its next location “whenever or wherever that may be.”
Circle Cafe on Main: The cafe announced it had opened Monday at 2 N. Main St. in Nazareth, where it serves coffee from Golden Valley Coffee Roasters, iced tea, lemonade, sandwiches, quiches, soups, meatloaf, deviled eggs, pasta salad and focaccia.
Star Park: The indoor playground will open soon at South Mall in Salisbury Township, the James Balliet Property Group announced.
ZEN: The bar and lounge held its grand opening Thursday at The Marquis apartment building at 27 S. Third St. in Easton.
Kozy Emporium Gift Shop: The shop announced a grand reopening event for April 25 at 15 Broadway in Bangor after it relocated from 11 Broadway. The new space previously hosted Breakfast on Broadway.
Diesel Dale’s Pitstop: The restaurant opened April 15 at 5879 Sullivan Trail in Plainfield Township, manager Esperanza Hernandez said, where it serves empanadas, burgers, hot dogs, cheesesteaks, fries and ice cream. She said owner Dennis Einfalt previously operated Petey’s Eatey’s at the property until it closed May 2025.
In other news
Walmart will remain open as it remodels at 3926 Linden St. in Bethlehem Township, with construction expected to finish in the summer.
All Aspects at the Barn announced a grand opening for its new coffee and espresso bar Barn Brew on April 29 at 1584 S. Delaware Drive in Upper Mount Bethel Township.
Retail Watch is a weekly column covering retail and restaurant news in the Lehigh Valley. Have a question, tip, or want to see something in the area? Contact retail reporter Graysen Golter at retailwatch@mcall.com.