After roughly six years of mobile operations, a local pizza vendor has opened its own takeout restaurant in Allentown.
Local Stone opened in late September at 446 N. 15th St., serving pizza varieties such as “The DG” with soppressata and chorizo and “The Hoff Detroit” with Mike’s Hot Honey. It also delivers within an 8-mile radius.
Jess Macker, co-owner alongside her husband Brian, opened the business as a mobile pizza vendor in 2020.
As people who have always enjoyed cooking, she said, “we started to expand into pizza and then we just heard from family and friends over the few months before we started, like, ‘This is really fantastic, you should try and sell this.’ And then during the craziness of COVID, we just decided to give it a try.”
Macker said they went “gone back and forth” on opening a physical location for several years.
Then, the right spot came along and gave them the push they needed, she said. “We wanted a spot where it just becomes a natural next step for our customers to come, pick up their food and then go on to their events with their family and friends.”
Local Stone replaced the former hot dog restaurant Willie Joe’s, Macker said.
Hot pizza’s are prepared Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the pop-up takeout pizza business Local Stone on15th Street in Allentown. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)
The pop-up pizza business Local Stone holds its grand opening Oct. 1 for its new takeout restaurant in Allentown. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)
Owners Jess Macker and Brian Macker stand at their pop-up takeout pizza business Local Stone on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, on 15th Street in Allentown. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)
Owner Jess Macker holds a pizza fresh out of the oven Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at her pop-up takeout pizza business Local Stone on 15th Street in Allentown. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)
Hot pizza’s are prepared Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the pop-up takeout pizza business Local Stone on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, on 15th Street in Allentown. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)
Hot pizza’s are prepared Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the pop-up takeout pizza business Local Stone on 15th Street in Allentown. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)
Owners Jess Macker and Brian Macker hold hot pizza’s fresh out of the oven Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at their pop-up takeout pizza business Local Stone on Street in Allentown. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)
Chef Adonnis Valle, front, and Owners Brian Macker and Jess Macker stand near a variety of fresh hot pizza’s at the pop-up takeout pizza business Local Stone on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, on 15th Street in Allentown. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)
Show Caption
1 of 8
Hot pizza’s are prepared Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the pop-up takeout pizza business Local Stone on15th Street in Allentown. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)
Expand
Lehigh Valley retail and restaurant news in brief
1812 Piano Lounge: The piano lounge will close Oct. 22 at 1812 W. Allen St. in Allentown.
Rice’s Market: The historic market announced it will hold its final day Dec. 29 at 6326 Greenhill Road in Solebury Township, Bucks County, over 160 years after it began.
SNIPES: The sneakers and streetwear store opened Thursday at the Lehigh Shopping Center on Union Boulevard in Bethlehem.
Giant: The grocery store celebrated several months’ worth of updates Friday at Nazareth Plaza at 859 Nazareth Pike in Lower Nazareth Township. They include more hot and prepared foods for the deli and prepared foods departments like smoked meats, a new consultation room to administer vaccines at the in-store pharmacy, moving the beer and wine area to the front corner and moving the floral area to near the registers.
Warby Parker: The eyewear store will open next year at Promenade Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon Township.
The Bethlehem Gift Shoppe: The gift shop announced a grand opening for Saturday, Oct. 10, at 77 W. Broad St., 12C, in Bethlehem.
Belia’s Dominican Beauty Salon & Barber Shop: The new salon and barbershop will hold a grand opening Oct. 20 at the Palmer Park Mall in Palmer Township, the mall announced.
Precious Petals Florist: The flower shop announced it has relocated from 5614 Main St. in Whitehall Township to 4119 Mauch Chunk Road in North Whitehall Township.
T-Rex Sports Cards & Gaming: The trading card store announced it will have a grand opening Nov. 14 at 202 Main St. in Hellertown.
In other news
The cafe Jay’s Local will celebrate its seventh anniversary with a free storytime event 10 a.m. Monday at the Civic Theatre in Allentown, featuring influencer Kayla Marhefka.
The Nazareth Fall Festival will kick off at 2 p.m. Oct. 17 on Main Street between Belvidere and Walnut street in Nazareth, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce website announced. It will feature contests for holding beer steins and ice cream cones as well as live music, food trucks and vendors.
Vegan Treats in Bethlehem was named best vegan bakery in the United States by the VegNews magazine and website. “Danielle Konya’s Bethlehem bakery has spent two decades perfecting an enormous lineup of treats, with something to sate any palate,” the website said.
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.