Press Release

ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania _ Ethia Dulorie and her husband, Garry, of Macungie have purchased the nearly 4,000-square-foot building at 3001 West Emaus Avenue and plan to renovate and expand.  The couple hope to move their Emaus Avenue daycare to the new site by the fall when the renovations are complete. The building had last been a mattress store.

Jeff Barber of Lehigh Financial Group LLC in Allentown arranged the financing for the Dulories to buy the building and make renovations. The purchase price was not disclosed. The sale was completed in early March. 

The Dulories opened the day care, Creative Kids Learning Academy, at 2925 W. Emaus Avenue in 2013. They lease the space which has about 55 children enrolled. When they saw the building practically next door was for sale, they decided to buy it and renovate it. The new space will be licensed for about 130 children ages infant to 13. 

“There is a huge demand for quality childcare, especially in this area,” Ethia said. “This will allow us to accommodate more families.” Ethia said they plan to make extensive renovations to the site and install an outdoor play area. They are hoping to complete the renovations in about six months. 

The Dulories also operate a day care, The Lehigh School Academy of Early Education, at 1593 Lehigh Street. No changes are planned for that site. 

When the Emaus Avenue daycare moves, it will change its name to The Lehigh School Academy of Early Education as well. 

Barber said he is excited to see the Dulories expand their childcare business and knows they are committed to providing an environment where children of all ages and backgrounds can flourish. 

Ayon Codner of Keller Williams Real Estate in Allentown represented the Dulories and Carl Joseph Black, Esq. was their legal counsel.

BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania _ Costas and Deb Hrousis of Bethlehem Township have purchased a 2.2-acre property and plan to open a luxury boarding and doggie daycare center on the site by mid-summer. The property, which at one time housed a child daycare center, is at 3986 Township Line Road in the township. 

Mike Gilbert of Lehigh Financial Group LLC helped arrange the multi-million-dollar SBA 504 loan that the couple used to buy the property and will use to renovate the 9,225-square-foot building on it.

“We are basically gutting the entire inside of the building and we’re transforming it into the luxury boarding and daycare model that is K9 Resort,” Deb said. “Our goal is to open sometime this summer.” 

A franchise, K9 Resort is based in New Jersey and a leader in the luxury pet hospitality industry. K9 Resorts offer sleeping enclosures for one to two dogs and day group play or individual play time with staff. It also says it has comfort mat bedding and premium meals for the dogs. 

When fully operational, the couple will be able to offer overnight boarding for up to 85 dogs and doggie daycare for up to 140. 

Like many people, Deb got a dog during the pandemic. Apollo, 4, a black lab, “just loves everybody,” she said. “But he doesn’t necessarily do well in group settings.” Working in education, Deb was looking for a one-on-one place for Apollo at the same time she was looking for her “do-next” career. K9 came up on her internet search, and she was hooked, she said.

Once they bought the franchise, Costas, owner of Veraxia Commercial Real Estate, found the location, which is about 8 minutes from their home. 

Deb said Mike Gilbert was instrumental in getting their SBA loan to close. “He walked us through every step of the project and, whenever challenges arose, he took the stress out of it for us,” she said. “Having Mike there to help when starting a business was instrumental.” 

Gilbert expects the K9 Resort to be popular with area dog owners who wish to pamper their pets when they can’t. 

The buyers were represented by Attorney Paul Harak of Holzinger, Harak & Scomillio Law Offices in Bethlehem and the lender that funded the loan was TD Bank. 

KUTZTOWN, Pennsylvania _ Jasdeep and Rajni Grewal of Center Valley have purchased 163 West Main Street near the university and plan to open an Indian restaurant at the site. The restaurant will feature North and South Indian cuisine, but they have not yet decided on a name. 

Jeff Barber of Lehigh Financial Group, LLC, in Allentown, helped arrange the commercial financing for the Grewals to buy the building and open the restaurant. 

Rajni Grewal grew up in the restaurant business. Her parents own Indian restaurants in New Jersey and her cousins own Indian restaurants in New Jersey and Easton, near Lafayette College. They will hire a chef for their new restaurant, but Jasdeep says he likes to cook and plans to help out. 

They hope to open the restaurant by the end of April. 

They plan to add some equipment and make some cosmetic changes to the building, which had been a restaurant before it closed. They also plan to add some seating and remodel the bathroom. “Before we open, we want to make it a place that people want to come and have food that is wow,” Jasdeep said. 

Plans are to open the restaurant at 11 a.m. for lunch, close for dinner prep at 2:30, and reopen at 5. However, Jasdeep said their plans could change depending on traffic and what others in the area do. 

The Grewals own two 7-Elevens in the Lehigh Valley area, one on Susquehanna Street in Allentown and one in Richlandtown. Because of Rajni’s family background, they had wanted to add a restaurant to their portfolio. Jasdeep said he had been looking at commercial real estate sites for a while when he saw this opportunity and thought the location in a college town ideal.

Barber said he is confident that their restaurant will be popular and a success particularly in this location with the Kutztown University students and local residents. 

The buyers were represented by Ken Palumbo of Howard Hanna Commercial Real Estate in Allentown. 

EASTON, Pennsylvania _ Jackie and Wilson Rueda, owners of Green Vida Company,  have purchased a commercial property at 104 North Fourth Street to expand their organic cold press juicing business. The local business owners acquired the property for with a commercial loan arranged by Jeff Barber of Lehigh Financial Group LLC. 

Jackie Rueda said after some minor renovations to the property, they would move their juicing operation to the new location. “Our juicing operation has grown, so we are expanding,” she said. “This purchase allows us to grow our juicing operations even more.” She expects to complete the move early in the new year. 

The Ruedas opened their original GreenVida location in Bangor in 2018 and moved to the Easton area in 2019.  They started the business after discovering the positive effects that a nutritional diet with natural, high-quality ingredients had on their autistic son’s physical and behavioral health. 

They have two locations: The flagship cafe and juice bar is located inside Park Plaza in Forks Township. A second location in the Easton Public Market has been open since spring 2021. “We are not closing any of our current locations with this expansion,” Jackie Rueda said. 

www.greenvidacompany.com

Rueda said Jeff Barber was really helpful in finding the best commercial loan that helped them to finance their expansion.

Barber said he is excited because he knows that the couple will continue to expand their business and do extremely well. 

The buyers were represented by Nathan Powell of Keller Williams Realty of Bethlehem Pa. The loan was funded by Members 1st. 

PEN ARGYL, Pennsylvania _ Mike and Stephanie Bartleson of Williams Township have purchased Premier Granite & Marble Inc. from their good friend, John Hunt. Hunt began the business at 735 West Pennsylvania Avenue in 2002 and wanted to sell because he was relocating out West. 

Mike Bartleson, who had been friends with Hunt for more than 30 years, thought it would be a great opportunity for him to own a small business. Bartleson, a chemist by degree, said he saw the purchase of the business as an opportunity to “maintain and grow relationships that John started over his 20 years in business.” 

Premier Marble & Granite serves both residential and commercial customers. Homeowners can visit the showroom and select materials while contractors and builders also can place orders, Bartleson said. 

A native of Pen Argyl, Bartleson said he has no plans to make changes to the business side of the operation. “It is the perfect chance for me to pick up where John left off,” Bartleson said. 

Eventually, Bartleson expects his youngest son who works at the business to take it over. His son’s working there was another reason why he was interested in buying the business when his friend wanted to sell. 

Bartleson said Hunt had talked about selling over the years but knew he was serious about it this time because he purchased a home in Utah. This is Bartleson’s first business venture. 

Jeff Barber of Lehigh Financial Group LLC in Allentown arranged the SBA financing for the Bartlesons to purchase the business.

Kristi Lutes, owner/managing director of Persev Advisors in Easton, a mergers and acquisitions firm, was instrumental in making the purchase come together.  Attorney Bryan Tuk represented the buyers and Willow Settlement Services in Nazareth conducted the closing.

Barber said the purchase came together smoothly and that the Bartlesons will be extremely successful with their new business.  

FORKS TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania _ Partners Dave Fiore and Sherief Elsamra have purchased the old Forks Diner at 3315 Sullivan Trail as a second location for their full-service auto repair business. They paid $650,000 for the nearly 5,000 square-foot diner and plan to convert it into a 6-bay auto repair shop. 

Lehigh Financial Group, LLC in Allentown arranged more than $1,000,000 for the partners to acquire the property and convert it into a second shop. The new auto repair business will be called Your Mechanic PA, LLC. 

Best friends, Fiore and Elsamra had been looking for a second location to accommodate their growing repair business for some time when their real estate agent Kristie Bauder of Iron Valley Real Estate of the Lehigh Valley informed them that the former diner was on the market. 

“Because we were doing well in our first location, we wanted to expand our services to Forks Township,” Fiore said. 

Fiore and Elsamra opened their first auto repair shop, Wrenchtec at 20 E. Lawn Road in Nazareth, four years ago. It has 4 bays. Its mechanics do everything from maintenance to automotive repairs and specialty part installations. 

Lehigh Financial Group helped the partners secure financing for their first business venture and the partners knew the team at LFG would be ideal to help them with financing for their expansion. 

The partners hope to complete the construction and open the new shop by early spring. 

ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania _ Partners Scott Carey of Easton and Mike Schnalzer of Slate Belt Butchery LLC in Saylorsburg have purchased Hartman’s Butcher Shop off of Route 309 in New Tripoli and plan to reopen it this fall after completing some work. The 6,000-square-foot butcher shop closed July 2021 when its owner, Dennis Hartman, retired.  

The buyers are renaming the retail shop, located at 7291 Autumn Road, Carey and Schnalzer Quality Meats. They will continue processing their wholesale meat business under Slate Belt Butchery. They acquired the for the real estate, which included butchering equipment and its smokehouse along with some of Hartman’s secret recipes. 

Jeff Barber of Lehigh Financial Group LLC in Allentown arranged the SBA loan for the partners to buy the property and make some improvements to it. Barber said “He is excited to for both partners and was happy to help them expand their business and enjoyed working and learning what goes into the butchery business”.  

The butcher shop, with its iconic statute of a pig looking out on the road, had been in the Hartman family for three generations. It was started in 1940 by Hartman’s grandfather. 

“We bought a turnkey operation, but we plan to make it our own,” said Carey. The new shop will offer some of the sausages and other meat items that the Hartmans were known for as well as some of Carey’s and Schnalzer’s own recipes.

When Carey learned the business was for sale, “it was a no-brainer” to pursue it, he said. Carey, who had always wanted to “start my own thing,” is confident it will do well as it has a loyal customer base and is well-known in the area. 

Carey had worked in corporate marketing but was unhappy. He decided to pursue a career in something he enjoyed and followed his love of cooking and smoking meats to be trained in butchery. Schnalzer had been his boss at the butcher shop where Carey worked and they became and remained good friends. 

Carey said the demand for “this business is sky high” and that word spread quickly among those who work in it when Hartman’s was for sale. Carey said Barber walked him and Schnalzer through the process and helped them to acquire the financing they needed to complete the deal.

They hope to reopen the shop by September and perhaps have a soft opening in August. 

BLOOMSBURG, Pennsylvania _ Michael and Becky Shevlin of Schnecksville have purchased the family-oriented Indian Head Campground along the Susquehanna River and Fishing Creek and plan to make some upgrades as they continue its operation. They paid $1.315 million for the 38-acre campground, which has been in operation since 1976 under the same owner. Jeff Barber of Lehigh Financial Group LLC helped arrange the SBA financing to purchase the property and complete upgrades. The acquisition closed at the end of April. 

The campground at 340 Reading Street offers primitive sites for tents, water and electric for RVs, and full hookup sites. It is located on Route 42, three miles South of Exit 232 (Buckhorn/Bloomsburg) of I-80.

Becky Shevlin said their family loves to camp and, when COVID hit, they were looking for an opportunity to make such a purchase. When they saw this campground was available, they jumped. “It fit exactly what we wanted,” Becky said. “It had a lot of space. And it was the perfect fit for us.” Shelly Wattles, of Pine Creek Real Estate in Galeton, Pennsylvania, was the listing and selling agent for the campgrounds.

Becky said they plan to add a pole barn to serve as an event center and to be used as storage. “We want to add more weekend activities to keep our guests entertained,” she said. The campgrounds is “a nice fun family place, and we want to keep it that way,” she said.

The campgrounds, named after a local rock out-cropping, is built on what had been a cornfield, she said. Becky said the couple also plans to market the property more extensively than it had been.  RV sites are available from May 1 to October 31.  

ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA _ Action Corporations has purchased a 17,000-square-foot building at 622 Union Boulevard, which formerly housed Dave Phillips Music & Sound, for $1.4 million and plans to move there in early May. The closing occurred March 18. Jeff Barber of Lehigh Financial Group, LLC, in Allentown, arranged the financing to enable Action Corporations to complete the purchase and finance the renovations.

Thomas Walker and his wife, Evandra, started Action Cleaning, a janitorial company, in New York City in 2007, and have since expanded to five businesses. In addition to the original janitorial service, Action has companies that provide renovations, installations, and fine carpentry. It also offers temporary outsourced labor solutions for distribution centers and warehouse needs.

Since its founding, Action Corporations has expanded from New York to other states across the country including California, Texas, Maine and Florida. Among its clients are Macy’s, Target, Starbucks, Walmart, Panera Bread, Bed Bath & Beyond and Wells Fargo. 

“What you would call us today is a project management company,” said Walker, who is CEO. “We have vendors who work exclusively for us and vendors we use when jobs come up in their area,” he said. It has about 20 employees as well as large list of independent contractors that it uses. 

 In 2016, a relationship with one of its clients led to Action doing business in Eastern Pennsylvania. In 2018, Walker rented space at 1041 North Quebec Street and a warehouse on South 5th Street for his companies. He plans to move from North Quebec Street to the property on Union Boulevard once renovations are complete.

Walker is planning to use the new space as offices for its corporate holdings. “We need the warehouse and the office space,” Walker said. “But we are planning to rent the retail space in the front of the building and will be looking for a partner.”

Commercial specialist Peter Adams of Berkshire Hathway/Fox & Roach Realtors in Macungie represented Walker as the buyer’s agent and Joe Paranee of Paranee Properties was the listing agent.

Dave Phillips Music & Sound closed its Allentown store at the end of January 2018.

Barber said he is happy to see Walker find a new home in Allentown for his businesses that continue to grow and expand.