{"id":160409,"date":"2026-04-08T13:02:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T13:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/160409\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T13:02:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T13:02:14","slug":"as-decades-old-lehigh-valley-business-bids-farewell-19th-century-barn-on-the-move-to-ohio-eat-sip-shop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/160409\/","title":{"rendered":"As decades-old Lehigh Valley business bids farewell, 19th-century barn on the move to Ohio | Eat, Sip, Shop"},"content":{"rendered":"

FORKS TWP., Pa. \u2013 A longstanding, family-run business is set to end operations later this spring in Northampton County, but a historic structure on the same property will find new life in a nearby state.<\/p>\n

Leiser\u2019s The Mower Shop, offering lawn equipment sales, maintenance and repairs along with propane tank refills, will hold its last day of business on May 26 at 2212 Sullivan Trail in Forks Township.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Kneller<\/p>\n

Owner Rob Leiser is retiring from the business that his late father, Donald Leiser, started 78 years ago in Bethlehem.<\/p>\n

Over the decades, multiple Leiser\u2019s locations operated throughout the Lehigh Valley, with Rob establishing the Forks store \u2013 the last remaining Leiser\u2019s location \u2013 in 1985 by repurposing old farm buildings and rental equipment.<\/p>\n

The Forks location was previously known as Leiser’s Rental Barn prior to the business’ rental operations ending in early 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a bittersweet farewell,\u201d Rob told 69 News.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father started the business in 1948, and I\u2019ve been here in Forks since 1985. This location was originally started as a branch of the Bethlehem store, and I bought it from my father in 1995. This was a project that I called the Don Leiser experience. He wanted me to show him that I could build and operate a store. So, I had five years to turn old farm buildings into a business and turn a profit, and I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ryan Kneller<\/p>\n

As the Forks business winds down operations, a property hallmark \u2013 an 1860s barn that was used for workspace and storage \u2013 is being disassembled piece by piece and transported to Steubenville, Ohio, where a new owner plans to reassemble the structure and repurpose it as a wedding venue, Rob said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Forks property is in the process of being sold to a company seeking to construct a car wash, and Rob and his wife, Barbara, put the barn up for sale earlier this year in hopes of saving it from likely demolition.<\/p>\n

The Forks property\u2019s sale is expected to be finalized later this year, Rob said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe first were in touch with individuals from a program called \u2018Barnwood Builders,\u2019 which helps salvage old barns,\u201d Rob said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were interested in it, but they couldn\u2019t work within our timeline. So, I then put an ad on Facebook Marketplace \u2013 \u2018barn for sale, must move soon.\u2019 It got 20,000 views, and I answered over 150 inquiries from people who were interested in it. Long story short, a company is moving it to Steubenville, Ohio, where it will find new life as an event venue. It\u2019s really incredible to see the process. The barn was built over 150 years ago, and all of the mortises were chiseled by hand. So, it really only comes apart and comes back together one way.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ryan Kneller<\/p>\n

Over the past few weeks, the barn\u2019s roof and red siding were disassembled and moved from the Forks site, and its wooden framework is expected to follow in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

The decision to relocate the barn was one that the Leisers landed on after exhausting other options.<\/p>\n

Rob said he\u2019s tried to preserve and update the barn a few times over the years, but he\u2019s encountered resistance from township officials.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very happy the barn is getting a new lease on life at a new spot because there was little to no hope for it to survive at its original location,\u201d Rob said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe township made it clear that it doesn\u2019t want the barn here as it will not fit current zoning regulations. For anyone who\u2019s been interested in the property, the one sticking point is that the barn needs to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Leiser’s operates at 2212 Sullivan Trail in Forks Township.<\/p>\n

Ryan Kneller<\/p>\n

Donald Leiser started the business \u2013 originally known as Donald W. Leiser Sales & Service \u2013 in 1948 at his family\u2019s property at 3301 Linden St. in Bethlehem, Rob said.<\/p>\n

The shop sold Toro lawn mowers, along with other lawn and garden items such as tractors, fertilizer, lawn seed, bird feeders and garden accessories.<\/p>\n

The Bethlehem area store relocated a few other times, including in 1955 to 2960 Linden St. and in 1970 to 3608 Nazareth Pike, Rob said.<\/p>\n

At its peak in the 1970s, the business had three locations \u2013 in Bethlehem Township, Palmer Township and Macungie \u2013 operating at the same time, Rob said.<\/p>\n

Leiser\u2019s former Bethlehem Township location closed in 2018, and the 3608 Nazareth Pike location was demolished a few years later<\/a> to make way for a Wawa gas station and convenience store.<\/p>\n

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Leiser’s owner Rob Leiser is pictured inside the barn that is being disassembled\u00a0at 2212 Sullivan Trail in Forks Township and moved to Steubenville, Ohio for use as an event venue.<\/p>\n

Leiser’s<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m 71 years old, and I\u2019ve been doing this type of work for over 60 years,\u201d Rob said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started putting lawn mowers together as a 7-year-old kid, and I was always at my dad\u2019s shop because we lived right behind it in Bethlehem. The business relocated a couple of times prior to 1970, but we never moved far. It was always less than a half mile away from the previous location.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leiser\u2019s business model evolved over the years, with a separate rental division being introduced in 1960.<\/p>\n

For decades, the business offered rentals of various lawn and construction equipment as well as party tents, folding chairs and other supplies.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe business went off into various directions over the years, but for most of our existence, the main components were lawn equipment and rentals,\u201d Rob said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it came to our rentals, we could handle any and all party needs \u2013 from a backyard kegger to a wedding of up to 500 people under a tent.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Forks, the rental aspect of Leiser\u2019s ended in early 2024 as Rob began to slowly transition into retirement.<\/p>\n

Today, the shop operates with limited hours and primarily focuses on lawn mower tune-ups, repairs and sales as well as propane tank refills.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Kneller<\/p>\n

Inside the shop, there\u2019s also a variety of hand tools and lawn equipment available for purchase.<\/p>\n

While Rob has been phasing out operations over the past few years, a recent change to the business\u2019 insurance policy led to a definitive closing date.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust recently, I found out that my workmans\u2019 comp policy won\u2019t cover the propane operation anymore,\u201d Rob said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetween all of our stores \u2013 this one and our former locations, we have been pumping propane for over 50 years without a single incident. That didn\u2019t seem to matter though as the insurance company deemed it dangerous anyway. So, while I\u2019ve been slowly nearing the end here, that letter from the insurance company just gave me a good date to wrap everything up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahead of the business\u2019 closure, a clearance sale is underway with all items discounted and \u201cpriced to sell,\u201d Rob said.<\/p>\n

A multitude of mowers and other equipment that were previously stored in the barn are now situated outside of the shop.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Kneller<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a collection of gently used and antique lawn mowers, including push and riding models, along with accompanying equipment and even a Ford Model T.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you have a barn that\u2019s 102 feet long, you tend to not throw things away as often as you should,\u201d Rob said with a laugh.<\/p>\n

Until May 26, Leiser\u2019s is continuing to offer lawn mower maintenance and repairs, equipment sales and propane refills.<\/p>\n

Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.<\/p>\n

Rob is thankful for the community\u2019s support over the years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis community has been so great to us, and it\u2019s also grown around us,\u201d Rob said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we got here back in 1985, this was still very much a farm community. I\u2019ve assisted thousands of people with the do-it-yourself projects beyond their skill level, and I can\u2019t tell you how many people have rented equipment for decks, fences and other projects. The residents of Forks Township and surrounding area have been very good to us, and we\u2019re extremely thankful.\u201d<\/p>\n

In an announcement on Leiser\u2019s Facebook page, Rob shared a business update and thanked the Forks location\u2019s customers and former employees.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy next spring, a Shammy Shine Car Wash will occupy this address,\u201d Rob stated in the announcement.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026 It has been a fantastic journey, and my truly happy place is working with a wrench in my hand. The last part of my life will be spent with more wrench time and no management headaches. To my customers who have asked me to help them complete DIY projects beyond their skill level, I was happy to help. I couldn’t have been successful without you. To my past employees, I have mixed messages; however, you all went forward with the skills you acquired working with us. To the citizens against everything, and the Township officials who consider squashing small businesses a game, I WIN! Thank you all, and stop in and say goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"FORKS TWP., Pa. \u2013 A longstanding, family-run business is set to end operations later this spring in Northampton…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":160410,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[119,121,120,10032,72451,72448,38197,71014,72446,72452,434,72450,72447,72449,49530,35947],"class_list":{"0":"post-160409","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-allentown","8":"tag-allentown","9":"tag-allentown-headlines","10":"tag-allentown-news","11":"tag-car-wash","12":"tag-don-leiser","13":"tag-donald-leiser","14":"tag-forks-township","15":"tag-lawn","16":"tag-lawn-mower","17":"tag-leiser","18":"tag-northampton-county","19":"tag-propane","20":"tag-rental-equipment","21":"tag-rob-leiser","22":"tag-steubenville","23":"tag-sullivan-trail"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160409","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=160409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160409\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}