Knives. A frame for the art of The Beatles’ album “Yesterday and Today.” The Union Jack hanging from the ceiling. A Ronald’s PlayPlace sign. A Vietnam War-era jacket. Guitars. Comic book issues.
And … swords. Just swords sitting on a table with the same reverence as a coffee mug.
Antiques are unpredictable. There is no way to know what significance an item will have decades after it was created, or if it will still be around after so long. But antiques are not unfindable, especially with the reopening of an antique store in Allentown.
Weil’s Doghouse Antiques announced its opening Aug. 27 at the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St., where the former Parkway Lanes bowling alley space offers items from over 190 vendors such as art, decorations, glassware, dishes, video games, tools, furniture, lighting, jewelry, bags and apparel.
Cindy and Rick Weil, who operated the store up until last year as Weil Antique Center at 2200 31st St. SW in Salisbury Township, offer clocks at the new location as well.
Mark Higgins, who previously operated Doghouse Antiques in the New Hope area, is the new co-owner alongside his partner Michele Vrentas, who owns the Lift Easton yoga and massage studio.
The store originally announced that it would open September 2025, but Higgins said that inspection and construction took longer than expected.
The exact opening day may be arbitrary — as Higgins explained, the store is never finished and will always hopefully get better. But the delay hasn’t seem to hurt or discouraged customers. Higgins said Wednesday that the store already sold $60,000 of product in the last four days. Thousands of people visited its first weekend.
“All the different people that came together to work as a team — from the previous owners of Weil’s, my construction crew, our staff that takes care of the desk and helps the customers, my partner Michele — we’ve all contributed and if it wasn’t for the people that worked together as a team, we wouldn’t be in this position,” Higgins said. “And … it’s the tenants themselves that even had faith in us, that they put in an application, they gave us deposits, they were patient with our opening. The coordination of all the different talents that have come together are making the store what it is.”
“It feels like a huge relief!” Vrentas said in a written statement of the opening. “I’m so thrilled for all the amazing vendors, for this amazing opportunity to be an owner and artistic producer of this beautiful store. We took antique shopping to a new level in Allentown. Our shoppers let us know every day.”
The store operates 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. It will host events such as art shows, live music and online auctions, Higgins said. A flea market will also operate there 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Weil’s Doghouse Antiques’ Mark Higgins and partner Michele Vrentas along with Molly sit at their new location Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Weil’s Doghouse Antiques’ Mark Higgins and partner Michele Vrentas along with Molly sit at their new location Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A variety of vendors offers all sort of antiques from the eccentric to the elegant Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Weil’s Doghouse Antiques’ Mark Higgins and partner Michele Vrentas along with Molly sit at their new location Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
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Weil’s Doghouse Antiques’ Mark Higgins and partner Michele Vrentas along with Molly sit at their new location Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Weil’s Doghouse Antiques in the Parkway Shopping Center at 1471 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The antique store features over 180 vendors in its location in the back of the mall’s parking lot. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
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Lehigh Valley retail and restaurant news in brief
The Flying V Poutinerie: The poutine restaurant announced its closure for 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, at 201 E. Third St. in Bethlehem.
J’s Steaks & Subs: A new restaurant will open soon next to the Fairgrounds Hotel at the Allentown Fairgrounds in Allentown.
Dave’s Hot Chicken: The Nashville hot chicken chain plans to have a grand opening Sept. 18 at the Nazareth Crossing shopping center at 3812 Easton-Nazareth Highway in Lower Nazareth Township. Another location is planned to open by the end of this year or early next year at the Cabela’s at 100 Cabela Drive in Tilden Township, Berks County.
Brü Daddy’s Brewing Co.: The brewpub held its final day of operation Aug. 29 at 732 Hamilton St. in Allentown. McCall Collective Brewing Co. will open for business for limited days and hours in mid-September before their grand opening weekend of Oct. 2-4.
Mister Car Wash: The car wash held a soft opening Aug. 18 at 2160 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township, a spokesperson said.
Azur Mediterranean Bar & Grille: The Mediterranean restaurant announced its permanent closure Aug. 29 at the Trolley Barn Public Market in Quakertown. It opened in December and was initially planned as an expansion for True Blue Mediterranean Grill, which will remain open at the market.
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. Sign up for our weekly Retail Watch newsletter at mcall.com/retailwatchsignup.