Following is a roundup of recent Lehigh Valley retail and business news. Click each headline for the original source and additional information.<\/p>\n
Final Unclaimed Freight store in Bethlehem to close after more than 50 years<\/a><\/p>\n The last Unclaimed Freight<\/a> furniture store will close its doors at the end of February, marking the end of a business that served the Lehigh Valley for more than five decades. The store at 2260 Industrial Drive in Bethlehem launched a liquidation sale Jan. 1 as its owners prepare for retirement. Manager Robert Hahn, who has worked for the company for 48 years, said everything must be sold, including furniture, home d\u00e9cor and store fixtures. All items are heavily discounted and sales are final.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re very grateful to the Lehigh Valley community and everyone who has supported the business over the years,\u201d Hahn said. \u201cWe\u2019ve loved serving everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Hahn\u2019s late uncle, Joseph Colabella, founded the business in 1971. Before opening the Bethlehem flagship location, Colabella ran a home d\u00e9cor shop and warehouse in Easton called Unclaimed Salvage & Freight in the late 1960s and briefly operated a store in Whitehall Township. The company expanded to more than a dozen locations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Missouri. The Bethlehem store is the last to close.<\/p>\n Music-themed restaurant draws crowd to Lower Macungie soft opening<\/a><\/p>\n A music-themed restaurant drew about 80 patrons to its soft opening Dec. 29 in Lower Macungie Township, despite having done no formal advertising. The Broken Record, at 6776 Hamilton Blvd., attracted enough interest that some customers waited outside before its 5 p.m. opening, according to owner Jeff Trainer.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been dreaming about this, planning it, developing it so long that when it happens, it\u2019s, like, \u2018Wow,\u2019\u201d said Trainer, who also owns the Wind Creek Event Center.<\/p>\n The restaurant surrounds diners with a rock-and-roll atmosphere through its decor of records, posters, and memorabilia. Staff members wore rock T-shirts during the opening, and menu items carry names like \u201cRock Star Shrimp,\u201d which features eight large shrimp with Vidalia onions and Old Bay seasoning for $17. Trainer considers the dish a signature offering.<\/p>\n The Morning Call reported The Broken Record is a new endeavor of the team from Griddle 145<\/a> in Whitehall Township, which had announced its closure Dec. 31.<\/p>\n From LehighValleyNews.com<\/a>Grand openings set for businesses from Easton to Emmaus<\/a><\/p>\n The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and its affiliates announced grand opening celebrations for new businesses from Easton to Emmaus, and for a nonprofit\u2019s new location in Bethlehem.<\/p>\n Legends Cigar Bar, 154 Northampton St. in Easton, is scheduled for a ribbon-cutting and opening celebration at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, with the Easton Area Chamber of Commerce. The luxury cigar bar and lounge concept comes from Larry Holmes Jr.<\/a>, son of world heavyweight boxing champ Larry Holmes. \u201cCommunity members, local leaders, and supporters are invited to attend, see the new space, and help welcome this unique new business to Easton,\u201d according to the chamber\u2019s event listing. It\u2019s free, with RSVPs encouraged via the chamber website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Emmaus Main Street Partners announced a grand opening ceremony from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, with noon ribbon-cutting at Bambu Yoga Center and Rooted Nutrition, 100 Keystone Ave. in Emmaus. \u201cThe two women launching these businesses are taking their knowledge of nutrition, traditional yoga practices, and weight training to bring a one-stop wellness resource to the community,\u201d the chamber\u2019s event listing states. View the listing on the chamber\u2019s website, web.lehighvalleychamber.org<\/a>, for information on registering for free classes<\/a> as part of the celebration.<\/p>\n