{"id":126265,"date":"2026-02-28T20:55:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T20:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/126265\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T20:55:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T20:55:10","slug":"the-hidden-impact-of-bethlehems-side-hustles-the-brown-and-white-the-hidden-impact-of-bethlehems-side-hustles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/126265\/","title":{"rendered":"The hidden impact of Bethlehem\u2019s side hustles – The Brown and White The hidden impact of Bethlehem’s side hustles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Across the Lehigh Valley, the workday doesn\u2019t always end at 5 p.m. After long shifts in warehouses, hospitals, offices and restaurants, a growing number of Bethlehem residents are turning evenings and weekends into opportunities to build something of their own.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From mobile car detailing to handcrafted skincare, these ventures are more than extra income streams. For many, they\u2019re financial safety nets and stepping stones toward independence \u2014 businesses rooted in community connection and long-term goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Justin Rodriguez<\/p>\n

While most unwind on weekends, Justin Rodriguez is building what he hopes will become his full-time career: True Nemesis Detailing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rodriguez, a warehouse security guard, discovered his passion in his driveway. Fresh out of high school, he washed his car every weekend. Neighbors began to notice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey would come up to me and ask to clean their (cars),\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019d do it without even charging them, and they would just give me a tip here and there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

As requests grew more challenging \u2014 including cleaning vehicles after a child became sick \u2014 Rodriguez said he realized he had both the skill and patience for professional detailing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He invested in a van, large water tank and generator, allowing him to operate entirely mobile and service vehicles at customers\u2019 homes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Prices typically range from $150 for a sedan with leather seats to about $300 for three-row SUVs. Higher-end services, such as paint correction and ceramic coating, can cost several thousand dollars.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His client base includes mothers, daily drivers and small dealerships preparing cars for resale. He said business peaks after winter, when customers want road salt removed, and remains steady through the summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During slower seasons, Rodriguez said he relies on junk removal and snow shoveling. Still, his long-term goal remains clear.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy goal in life is to make my side hustle my main thing,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cIt\u2019s a goal of mine to be my own boss in the future.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lawren Konschnik\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lawren Konschnik didn\u2019t plan to start a skincare business. It began with her son\u2019s eczema.<\/p>\n

When over-the-counter products failed to provide relief, Konschnik began experimenting at home. A friend shared a simple sugar scrub recipe before moving away, passing along the formula. Konschnik refined it into an emulsified, whipped scrub.<\/p>\n

The results were promising. Friends asked for more.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople started giving us feedback and saying, \u2018Hey, why don\u2019t you make soap?\u2019\u201d Konschnik said. \u201cI said, \u2018No way, that\u2019s some serious stuff.\u2019 Next thing you know, I\u2019m making soap.\u201d<\/p>\n

That experimentation grew into LK Artistry, <\/a>a local skincare business offering soaps, lotions, salves and shampoo and conditioner bars. Konschnik and her wife launched the business while putting themselves through college in their 30s, determined to maintain their lifestyle without taking on additional financial strain.<\/p>\n

Konschnik, who works as the director of human resources at Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley, said she prioritizes affordability and local engagement. She frequently hosts pop-up shops at community events such as Christkindlmarkt and Musikfest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been an entrepreneur at heart,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Courtesy of Lawren Konschnik)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Craig Werkheiser\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Craig Werkheiser, creativity extends beyond the bar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A wedding bartender since 2009, and full-time bartender at Vault 634, Werkheiser recently transformed his artistic background into live wedding painting.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI always did art, and being a wedding bartender, it seemed like a natural progression,\u201d he said. \u201cI knew what wedding event schedules looked like, so I knew what to expect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though he initially planned to practice at a friend\u2019s wedding, his first official booking came unexpectedly after a client discovered him online while researching live painters. Werkheiser noted the irony: he\u2019d researched how to become a live wedding painter using ChatGPT.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He completed his first commission in April 2025 and has continued building momentum. While self-promotion and marketing present challenges, the interaction keeps him motivated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMost artists are holed up in a studio,\u201d he said. \u201cThis lets me share my work while connecting with couples and their guests.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yessenia Ivelisse\u00a0<\/p>\n

For nearly seven years, Yessenia Ivelisse has been reshaping the local beauty scene through Catalina Dry Bar, an appointment-only blow-dry bar in downtown Bethlehem.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ivelisse works full time in human resources at St. Luke\u2019s University Hospital. The idea for her salon began as a class assignment while studying business at Northampton Community College. The business plan she developed became the foundation for the salon.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Frustrated by long waits and limited availability for blowouts at traditional salons, she envisioned a space focused exclusively on high-quality styling in a relaxed setting.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Opening Catalina Dry Bar required years of preparation, including collaboration with the Lehigh College of Business, guidance from NCC professors, navigating licensing requirements and securing a downtown location.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople see the outside of the business but don\u2019t really understand how hard it is to keep a small business going,\u201d Ivelisse said. \u201cI am still going, and my employees are happy. I am proud to continue carrying that banner year to year.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

She said balancing a full-time career, business ownership, completing a master\u2019s degree and raising a toddler demands careful time management.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough owning a business is rewarding, it can also be very isolating,\u201d Ivelisse said. \u201cIt is not as easy as people portray it on social media. It does take a lot of work and grit to get to where you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gabrielle Marie\u00a0<\/p>\n

In her home office, Gabrielle Marie has turned a workplace perk into supplemental income.<\/p>\n

A long-term disability claim manager, Marie earned enough points through her employer\u2019s recognition program to redeem a Cricut machine. What began as a hobby quickly evolved into a small business creating customized gifts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Her first project was a cup she designed for herself.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I see my water bottle with \u2018Mama\u2019 on it, it reminds me of why I woke up this morning,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a recently single mother, Marie said the side hustle supports both her finances and her mental health. She designs invitations, magnetic bookmarks, cups, shirts and other apparel, primarily through Facebook Marketplace while building a website and social media presence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She distinguishes herself through collaboration. After working with a daycare teacher who wanted a \u201cStranger Things\u201d shirt, Marie developed drafts and refined the design together.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (about) having people get excited with me about something that I am passionate about,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

In Bethlehem, side hustles like do more than just generate income. They build relationships. Each venture depends on word-of-mouth referrals and returning customers who trust the faces behind the services.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From detailing family cars to painting wedding scenes, these entrepreneurs have woven their work into the fabric of the community \u2014 one evening and weekend at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Across the Lehigh Valley, the workday doesn\u2019t always end at 5 p.m. After long shifts in warehouses, hospitals,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":126266,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[49122,153,155,154,523,4602],"class_list":["post-126265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bethlehem","tag-6-min-read","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-headlines","tag-bethlehem-news","tag-people","tag-south-side"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}