Now, the operators are planning to serve up the business’ popular eats and drinks \u2013 along with some new menu items \u2013 at a new spot.<\/p>\n
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Katie’s Country Kitchen<\/p>\n
The restaurant\u2019s new iteration, Katie\u2019s Country Kitchen featuring Katie\u2019s Kones, is expected to open by the new year at 4804 Route 309 in the Schnecksville section of North Whitehall Township, owner Katie Macalush told 69 News on Friday.<\/p>\n
An exact opening date has not yet been determined, but Macalush is hoping to open the restaurant sometime in December following minor cosmetic updates and successful inspections.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since late 2024, Macalush had been planning to open Katie\u2019s Country Kitchen on Cetronia Road in South Whitehall Township, but that project turned out to be more costly than originally anticipated, leading her to walk away from that lease.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were renovating the new space on Cetronia Road, and when we first got it, it was a vanilla box,\u201d Macalush explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, there was nothing in it. There was no floor or anything. So, we had to do the architectural plans for the underground plumbing, electrical, everything. We did all of that, poured the concrete and did some framing, but it just got to be way too expensive that we couldn\u2019t move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new Katie\u2019s restaurant will occupy the site of the former Villa Rosa & Mariachi Mexican Grill, which closed in late summer as owners Michael and Maria Garcia plan to open their new restaurant<\/a> \u2013 Mariachi Mexican Grill & John\u2019s Pizza \u2013 later this fall at 8016 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County.<\/p>\n Macalush dialed in on the Schnecksville site after her mother, Denise Macalush, who helps manage Katie\u2019s, saw a sign indicating that the building was available for rent.<\/p>\n Katie’s Country Kitchen owner Katie MacAlush poses with her two children, Hannah and Hudson.\u00a0<\/p>\n Courtesy Katie MacAlush<\/p>\n \u201cMy mom was over in Neffs, and we weren\u2019t even looking [for a new Katie\u2019s site],\u201d Katie said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe kind of felt defeated and thought, \u2018Maybe it\u2019s not meant to be at this time, and let\u2019s maybe take a break and see what happens.\u2019 But my mom was driving in that area, and she saw the sign that the building was for rent. She came home and said, \u2018Oh my gosh, I found our new place!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The Schnecksville location of Katie\u2019s will operate about six miles east of Katie\u2019s original location in New Tripoli.<\/p>\n The previously planned restaurant on Cetronia Road would\u2019ve operated about 13 miles from Katie\u2019s original location.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a lot closer to our old stomping grounds, where we used to be,\u201d Macalush said.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026 Our goal was always to get back up in that area. I just didn\u2019t think it would be this fast. And it\u2019s actually a small world because my parents and I used to go to [Villa Rosa in Schnecksville] when I was a little kid to eat. So, we know the owner, Joe, very well. When I called him, he was very excited to have us there.\u201d<\/p>\n Katie’s Family Restaurant previously operated at Route 309 and Northwest Road in Heidelberg Township.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ryan Kneller<\/p>\n Macalush\u2019s late father, Jim Macalush, established the original Katie\u2019s in 2012 at the site of the former Hamm\u2019s Drive-In and former Northwestern Grill at Route 309 and Northwest Road, adjacent to Northwestern Lehigh High School, Katie said.<\/p>\n The full-service restaurant became a \u201ccornerstone of the community,\u201d where individuals and families gathered for friendly conversation and fresh eats, with popular dishes including omelets, burgers, sandwiches, steaks, chicken entrees and seafood selections, Katie said.<\/p>\n At the new dining establishment, guests will be able to enjoy Katie\u2019s staples along with some new options.<\/p>\n Familiar favorites such as homemade creamed chipped beef and a soup and salad bar will return, along with specials such as an all-you-can-eat fish fry on Fridays.<\/p>\n Additionally, many front- and back-of-house staff members from the original location of Katie\u2019s will be working at the new Schnecksville restaurant.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also hired a new chef, who will be introducing some new Italian dishes such as bruschetta, eggplant parmigiana and pasta dishes,\u201d Katie said.<\/p>\n The new Katie\u2019s location will operate as a BYOB establishment and feature two distinct areas \u2013 a full-service dining room and a fast-casual section for ice cream and to-go food orders.<\/p>\n Katie’s Kones<\/p>\n A wide variety of Hershey\u2019s Ice Cream flavors will be available in cups or cones, and customers also will be able to enjoy milkshakes, sundaes and other chilled treats.<\/p>\n Katie’s Country Kitchen is tentatively set to operate 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Monday (closed Tuesdays), Katie said.<\/p>\n \u201cI figured there are a lot of places that aren\u2019t open on a Monday in that area,\u201d Katie added.<\/p>\n On Friday, Katie thanked supporters and shared plans for the restaurant\u2019s new location on the business\u2019 Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI can honestly say we weren\u2019t looking, BUT this location crossed our path from our [angel] above & it was meant to be!\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you Dad! Thank you for the support along the way and all the people that continued to believe in us. We are very blessed for this opportunity to be closer to our old stomping grounds!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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