BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A destination for hot eats and cool treats has ended operations in the Lehigh Valley.
Retro Burger, a retro-inspired restaurant and bar offering hand-crafted burgers, milkshakes and more, closed in recent days at 1223 W. Broad St. in Bethlehem.
Retro Burger has closed on West Broad Street in Bethlehem
Ryan Kneller
Retro Burger’s Google listing has been updated to read “permanently closed,” and the restaurant recently shared messages from individuals lamenting how much they will miss Retro Burger on the business’ Facebook page.
Husband and wife Juan Carlos and Cara Paredes opened Retro Burger in fall 2023 at the site of the former Mint Gastropub, a restaurant known for its creative food and drink menus.
The Paredeses are no strangers to the restaurant industry.
On downtown Bethlehem’s Main Street, the couple owns and operates additional full-service establishments, including Tapas on Main, Cachette Bistro & Creperie, The Flying Egg and Urbano Mexican Kitchen & Bar.
In summer 2022, they took over operations of The Mint and spent the next few months updating the restaurant’s look and menu before unveiling the changes to the public in the fall of that year.
Ryan Kneller
After about nine months of operation, though, the couple “wanted to try a new concept” at the west Bethlehem building, Cara previously told 69 News.
Retro Burger, with seating for more than 70 customers, offered a variety of unique burgers and handhelds, including a Hipster Burger” (single beef patty, avocado spread, candied bacon, tomato aioli, smoked gouda cheese and seeded bun), “French Onion Burger” (French onion seasoned beef, Swiss cheese and caramelized onion on sesame seed bun toasted with au jus and served with gravy for dipping) and “Thankful for Turkey” (turkey patty, arugula, goat cheese, cranberry aioli and side of house gravy).
Other sandwich highlights included a Cubano, crispy chicken sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich, crabby patty and West Broad cheesesteak.
Guests could also enjoy shareables such as beer cheese and pretzels, pulled pork wontons, fried pickles and nachos; desserts such as carrot cake, peach cobbler a la mode and crème brulee donut a la mode; and milkshakes and floats such as a death by chocolate shake and root beer float.
Retro Burger in Bethlehem is pictured here in October 2023.
Ryan Kneller
Retro Burger, which served lunch and dinner six days a week, replaced The Mint, which originally opened in 2011 in a former Bank of America building.
The Mint owner Domenic Lombardo followed in the footsteps of his father, Stefano Lombardo, owner of the former Stefano’s Restaurant on Linden Street in Bethlehem.
It’s unclear what led to Retro Burger’s closure.
The Paredeses did not immediately return messages seeking more information.