BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The holiday season can make or break things for small businesses, and a new cafe is hoping to get a boost as it opens its doors.
69 News Reporter Sydney Kay takes us to Bethlehem where serving coffee goes hand-in-hand with supporting small shops.
It wouldn’t be a cafe without caffeine, and this new Bethlehem shop is bringing flavors of the world, along with tranquility, to the Southside.
“Zen Cafe is more than just a coffee shop, it’s an experience,” said Annabel Figueroa, the co-owner of Zen Cafe and Donerds Donuts.
At its grand opening Monday, owners Annabel and Andrew have officially brought high-end coffee and matcha to West Morton Street.
“Annabel and I have traveled to a bunch of different countries, and we took inspiration from Japanese culture and Scandinavian culture,” said Andrew Underwood.
Watching matcha get whisked and trying trending Japanese sandos like its strawberries and cream, Zen Cafe fills what was an empty property since May.
“This is a cornerstone for the South Bethlehem community for Lehigh students so for us to be able to provide that sense of community here at the storefront is an awesome opportunity,” said Jake Stalsitz, the marketing coordinator for Amicus Properties.
The opening comes ahead of peak holiday season for those visiting the Christmas City.
“People come from all over the world to Bethlehem,” said Figueroa.
A time of year that many shops rely on to keep their doors open.
“Shop small. Shop chamber. Shop local. We love our small businesses. They’re really the heartbeat of our communities,” said Gina Martens, the senior vice president of member relations at the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.
With many small businesses popping up, Mayor Reynolds says in a world that is very transactional, shops like these keep the connection in the community.
“What Bethlehem is in 2026 is incomparable to what it was 30 or even 20 years ago. It really is every month, every year, more and more people want to live here, more and more families want to settle, and more and more businesses want to invest,” he explained.
A uniqueness drawing customers in with a hope to help the entire city thrive.
“Small businesses are your neighbors. We live here in Bethlehem, and I think it’s important that we support each other,” said Underwood.
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