AFK Gaming arcade opens in Allentown.

Lehigh Valley video clip gamers be mindful.

There is now a cure for solitary, dwelling-certain video clip gaming at what is claimed to be the area’s initially fashionable video clip arcade.

This 5-day previous arcade, identified as AFK Gaming, is in close proximity to Center Metropolis Allentown at avenue stage, Suite 140, inside of the Hives condominium advanced at 107 North 7th St.

Owner Josh Babayan, a 30-yr-old Allentown indigenous who graduated DIeruff Substantial College in  2010, introduced the business previously this week and it is what he described as, “My take on a  modern-day video arcade.’’

The arcade is set in about 840 sq. feet decorated with interesting, sleek and soothing grey tones coupled with two 65-inch and 4 55-inch screens. In front of just about every monitor are couches capable of seating 1 to 4 gamers.

Babayan provides the hand controls and headsets, but the gamer decides what to perform from a  collection of 207 online games in genres such as job enjoying, action/adventure, sporting activities, battling, horror as very well as the most well-known like Madden and Get in touch with of Duty.

For individuals who want fewer technologies there are a number of board game titles, playing cards and chess sets, Babayan claimed.

Babayan mentioned whilst most gamers interact with other players electronically, the practical experience adjustments when you’re in a room whole of many others.

“Gaming is usually better when you’re all over pals. Facial area to facial area, currently being around other men and women, it’s constantly better,’’ he reported.

AFK Gaming is Babayan’s first try at self-employment. Before this the east Allentown indigenous sold automobiles in Phoenix and Dallas in addition to doing the job at dining establishments and a production plant.

As for location up the organization near to Center Town, he explained, “There’s not a ton to do in the area and there are a whole lot of new apartments. There are individuals functioning from property who could want to  get out and do a thing. I just see a developing downtown and want to portion of that,’’ he mentioned.

“I have played online games my whole lifetime and in middle and higher college I began arranging tournaments,’’  said. “I needed a area where by players can meet up with and there are none like  this in the Lehigh Valley.’’

Tournaments will be scheduled at AFK each and every other Saturday with the very first a person scheduled for  Sept. 23. The value to participate in for every particular person is $10 for every hour or $25 for a day pass. For special gatherings, GMK will  lease the complete place for $75 for every hour.

AFK is open up Sunday by Thursday from 12 to 8 p.m. and Friday as a result of Saturday, 12 to 10  p.m. For much more details go to Instagram @AFKAllentown.

— Chuck Malinchak

Shaq’s Large Hen coming to Valley

Huge Chicken, the quick relaxed chicken strategy started by basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, announced that the brand name plans to increase its presence in Pennsylvania, which include a long run locale in the Lehigh Valley.

Family members entrepreneurs Harsimrat, Shubreet, Samarjit, and Pukhraj Sidhu plan to deliver Big Rooster restaurants to several markets across the condition, the organization announced in a information release, with State School being a single of the to start with destinations, adopted by the Lehigh Valley and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton areas.

It had been earlier announced that the franchise signed a lease with neighborhood cafe team Memo II to open up a restaurant later this 12 months in the Pocono Quality Outlets in Tannersville.

“Harsimrat, Shubreet, Samarjit, and Pukhraj will bring a new stage of functions sophistication and excellence to the Big Rooster franchise process, and we’re thrilled to have them on board,” mentioned Significant Hen CEO Josh Halpern. “We at present have a single future area slated for the state of Pennsylvania, so we are massive time energized to guidance the Sidhu’s in their strategies for growth across the condition. Below we grow, Condition University.”

The Sidhu relatives has a qualifications in the benefit retail store, retail and hospitality industries, with 12 decades of business enterprise experience. They are narrowing down the website range method for the Condition College cafe, with options to expand further more with two supplemental areas in the Lehigh Valley and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton spots, according to the information launch.

Huge Chicken has spots open up in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston Rosemont, Illinois, and in the Dayton, Ohio location, as well as in metro-New York’s UBS Arena, The Comcast Centre in Philadelphia, The Moody Middle in Austin, ASU’s Mullett Arena, Palm Spring’s Acrisure Arena, St. Louis’s Busch Stadium, Kansas Metropolis Worldwide Airport and on a few Carnival Cruise ships.

Started in 2018, Massive Rooster is backed by partners JRS Hospitality of Las Vegas Authentic Brand names Team of New York City and O’Neal.

Large Chicken fuses O’Neal’s house-cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors. It features crispy hen sandwiches and tenders, crusted mac n’ cheese and hand-crafted ice cream shakes. Every menu merchandise tells a story all when presenting guests an within glance into O’Neal’s life and personality, according to data on bigchicken.com

To find out much more about Significant Hen, visit www.bigchicken.com.

A Pinch of Sugar coming to Nazareth

Nazareth is receiving a new place for freshly baked cookies, cupcakes and other sweets.

A Pinch of Sugar, a family members-owned and operated bakery, is preparing a ribbon slicing on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at a recently renovated house at 14 S. Principal St. Samples of the bakery’s sweet treats will be supplied.

The bakery, in the vicinity of Nazareth Moravian Church in the Nazareth Circle, will be operate by Kelly Hunsicker and her brother-in-law, Michael Royer.

New sports bar in Bethlehem

Bethlehem is officially having a new sporting activities bar when 515 Key Athletics Club retains its grand opening from 5-7 p.m. Monday.

The sports activities bar in fact opened throughout Musikfest, but a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take position at 5:30 p.m. Monday. The restaurant is in the room formerly occupied by Corked 2..

“Opening a athletics bar in attractive historic Bethlehem is a dream arrive true, and we’re truly honored to be a part of this outstanding community,” owner Chris Tiscio explained. “We’re devoted to presenting an unforgettable expertise, mixing the wealthy history of Bethlehem with the thrill of sporting activities.”

Crimson Ticket Cafe closing

The brick-and-mortar spot in downtown Allentown is closing, but Purple Ticket Cafe even now options to operate the foodstuff truck, in accordance to a submit on the restaurant’s Fb page.

“We wanted to permit everyone know that we have produced a extremely tricky determination. We have determined to shut the Cafe, at our Downtown Allentown spot. We have been working with pretty severe health troubles and had to just take into account how this was influencing our company. We will still be running the Purple Ticket Cafe Food items Truck and serving all of our excellent buyers our scratch designed menu that they have arrive to know and love.

“We wanted to thank all people who arrived by the Cafe to enjoy our food items! We appreciate and value all of you! Thank you for coming in each and every 7 days and supporting us and sharing component of your day with us! We are really grateful for the remarkable assist we been given this earlier 12 months from every person who arrived in to take a look at us in Allentown!”

The put up went on to say that reward cards will be honored at the food items truck.

Gallery coming to South Whitehall

Laura Brady Gallery, situated in the Stores at 3900 Hamilton in South Whitehall Township, will maintain a grand opening on Saturday, Sept. 23, in accordance to a news launch.

The ceremony will incorporate particular friends like community governing administration officers, regional artwork influencers, and other group neighbors and leaders, the release stated.

“As artist and operator of Laura Brady Gallery my drive is to current a special vision on nature and its reflection via artwork,” Brady said in the news release. “Also, I am delighted to join the Shops at 3900 Hamilton. This is a great fit for my new gallery, that will also operate as a working studio and host art-impressed workshops. It is also incredibly significant to me that a single of the 1st shops was started above 41 a long time back by a courageous woman entrepreneur whose first undertaking has assist drawn jointly this unique community of high-worth shops.”

The Western Lehigh Chamber of Commerce will host the ribbon cutting ceremony commencing at 6:30 p.m.