<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4EO8s9_0vyjmPhe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4EO8s9_0vyjmPhe00" width="1920" height="1080" ><figcaption>The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill</figcaption></figure>UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. – Opa! A popular restaurant chain – serving up gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita and other Greek specialties – is preparing to open its first Pennsylvania location in Lehigh County.The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, a fast-casual chain serving a variety of authentic Greek dishes created from family recipes passed down through generations in Greece, is set to open Monday, Oct. 14, at the Promenade Saucon Valley shopping center in Upper Saucon Township.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2P9Bsb_0vyjmPhe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2P9Bsb_0vyjmPhe00" width="2008" height="976" ><figcaption>Ryan Kneller</figcaption></figure>The 2,550-square-foot eatery, the chain’s first Pennsylvania location, will operate at 2880 Center Valley Parkway Suite 602, between Lashes by Gab and Komé Fine Japanese Cuisine.Husband and wife Chris and Marcia Nagy, owners of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill location in Center Valley, are excited to get the business up and running and believe the community will love the “delicious, fresh, and healthy Mediterranean food,” Chris said."I'm a big fan of Mediterranean food, and I visited The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill in New Jersey while going to my son's tennis match, and I just loved the food," Chris said. "The whole concept — with the service that they provided, the type of food on the menu and the way everything looked and tasted — was something that I knew would be perfect for the Lehigh Valley."Known for its “timeless flavors and legendary service,” The Great Greek serves a variety of authentic Greek dishes, including appetizers such as dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), hummus, tzatziki and avgolemono soup (Greek lemon chicken soup with rice).<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2GGlv4_0vyjmPhe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2GGlv4_0vyjmPhe00" width="2008" height="976" ><figcaption>Ryan Kneller</figcaption></figure>Customers also can enjoy hearty salads and bowls, including a classic Greek salad (featuring crisp romaine hearts, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, Kalamata olives, Greek feta, fresh herbs and homemade Greek vinaigrette) and the "Great Greek Rice Bowl” (featuring rice pilaf with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, marinated garbanzo beans, Kalamata olives, crumbled feta and side of tzatziki sauce).Optional bowl and salad add-ons include falafel, dolmades, gyro meat, chicken breast, steak tenderloin, jumbo shrimp, Australian lamb and Atlantic salmon.“I really like our hummus,” Chris said.“I put our hummus on everything. I think it’s a really great recipe. We make it from scratch in-house every day. I also enjoy our salads, which you can put any type of protein you want on them. The biggest seller is the gyro, and there are a lot of different modifications that you can make to the gyro as well.”Other menu highlights include beef/lamb or grilled chicken gyros, an Athenian burger (half pound grilled Angus beef with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, tzatziki and feta) and entrees such as various souvlaki platters (chicken breast, steak tenderloin, Australian lamb or jumbo shrimp).Entrees, starting at $15.99, are served with a side salad, tzatziki and pita, plus your choice of rice pilaf, French fries, feta fries (+$.50) or lemon potatoes (+$.50).“Designed for foodies with discerning palates, The Great Greek focuses on fresh ingredients, spice blends sourced from the Mediterranean, and sauces and marinades made in house,” a news release states. “Each dish is prepared fresh, making The Great Greek a healthy alternative to traditional fast casual restaurants.”The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, a member of the Starpoint Brands family (a division of United Franchise Group), was founded in 2011 by two Greek-Armenian, third-generation restaurateurs.In January 2016, Nick Della Penna and Trent Jones took over the first Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, expanding the brand to include franchised locations from coast to coast in the ensuing years.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=07b5nc_0vyjmPhe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=07b5nc_0vyjmPhe00" width="1268" height="680" ><figcaption>Ryan Kneller</figcaption></figure>There are more than 80 locations of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill open or coming soon across the country, according to the chain’s website.The Center Valley location, with indoor seating for around 60 customers and seasonal outdoor seating, will operate 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.“Get ready to savor the taste of Greece with our mouthwatering dishes, fresh ingredients, and warm atmosphere,” the opening announcement reads. “Join us for a delicious feast of gyros, souvlaki, salads, and more.”<h2>Joining a growing roster</h2>The forthcoming Great Greek location is among a host of other changes at the outdoor lifestyle center.A location of Five Guys, a family-owned and operated franchise restaurant group known for its hand-crafted hamburgers made from never-frozen beef and fresh-cut, boardwalk-style fries cooked in 100% peanut oil, opened on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 3045 Center Valley Parkway.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2mPEVm_0vyjmPhe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2mPEVm_0vyjmPhe00" width="2008" height="976" ><figcaption>Ryan Kneller</figcaption></figure>The 2,400-square-foot restaurant is operating between uBreakiFix and European Wax Center.Additionally, two other businesses — SmARTivities Showcase and Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls — are coming soon to the center, and the existing Pandora jewelry store is moving to a larger location.SmARTivities Showcase, an artist market and maker space designed "to make creativity accessible to everyone,” is expected to open in October between Elite Salons &amp; Suites and The Promenade Pop-Up Shop, SmARTivities founder April Tennille Khalil said.The 3,023-square-foot SmARTivities Showcase location will offer handmade gifts, art supplies and a pottery studio providing opportunities for classes, camps and more.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2YxKpD_0vyjmPhe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2YxKpD_0vyjmPhe00" width="1359" height="775" ><figcaption>SmARTivities Showcase</figcaption></figure>SmARTivities Showcase has operated at 60 Centre Square in downtown Easton for the past six years, and the Promenade Saucon Valley spot will be a second location, Khalil said.SmARTivities Showcase is designed to be an inclusive space for all ages and abilities, with a strong focus on personalized teaching techniques.The aim is to provide a welcoming environment where everyone can explore their creative side through a variety of activities and services including pottery wheel classes, open studio time, paint your own pottery, make and take crafts, classes and parties, artist market and showcase, art supplies and more."We are expanding, and our focus over at the Promenade is going to be more activities and classes while still offering space for artist to display and sell their works," Khalil said."We are definitely going to continue with our artist market, having artists that can rent space to display and sell their works. We pride ourselves in the fact that everything we sell is handmade. We work directly with the artists, who are mostly local."The opening of Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls at Promenade Saucon Valley has been pushed back to early 2025, according to a recent announcement on the shopping center's Facebook page.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1aLmJW_0vyjmPhe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1aLmJW_0vyjmPhe00" width="1920" height="1080" ><figcaption>Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls</figcaption></figure>The 1,500-square-foot restaurant, the chain's first Pennsylvania location, was originally expected to open in late summer.Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls, with more than 30 locations nationwide, serves up classic New England menu items made with simple recipes using the highest quality lobster meat sourced straight from Maine waters, according to a news release.In addition to lobster rolls, other menu highlights include lobster salad, shrimp salad, lobster grilled cheese, lobster mac and cheese and lobster bisque.Also making moves at Promenade Saucon Valley is Pandora, a popular jewelry brand that designs, manufactures and markets hand-finished jewelry made from high-quality materials, which is expanding and more than doubling its current space.The new store will hold a grand opening at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11, in Suite 616 between Altar'd State and Sleep Number, according to a news release.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2zc2Ma_0vyjmPhe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2zc2Ma_0vyjmPhe00" width="2008" height="976" ><figcaption>Ryan Kneller</figcaption></figure>The new store will total 2,330-square-foot, more than double its current size.It will feature the latest EVOKE design. This innovative layout includes a central island surrounded by wall fixtures that beautifully showcase Pandora's collections.From Oct. 11 through Oct. 20, guests can stop inside the store and enter to win a prize package, worth over $150, featuring a pink jewelry box, bracelet, charm and cleaning kit.Promenade Saucon Valley, which debuted in 2006 with more than 70 tenants, in April announced a "brand refresh" that included changing its name from its original moniker, "The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley."The new name drops the word 'Shops' to reflect the center's expanding tenant mix and evolving focus on becoming an increasingly popular community hub and gathering place, according to a news release.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0NMgG6_0vyjmPhe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0NMgG6_0vyjmPhe00" width="2008" height="976" ><figcaption>Ryan Kneller</figcaption></figure>The brand refresh also comes with a new color palette as well as a series of upgrades that include new soft seating in Town Square and at The Patio and breezeway; an upgrade to the gazebo; a freshly painted star at the pop jet fountain; shades over the outdoor amphitheater seating; and new property-wide signage upgrades coming in the fall.In addition to Five Guys, other Promenade Saucon Valley tenants opening earlier this year include Rally House, a specialty sports store chain offering an expansive selection of apparel, gifts, home décor and other types of merchandise representing local NCAA, NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS teams; J.Crew Factory, a fashion retailer known for its fun, classic and colorful styles for women, men and children; Slime Time II, a family-friendly entertainment venue allowing children of all ages to make their own slime; and Fulton Bank, a Lancaster-based bank offering a broad array of financial products and services in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2WtDH6_0vyjmPhe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2WtDH6_0vyjmPhe00" width="1942" height="1067" ><figcaption>Ryan Kneller</figcaption></figure>Tenants joining Promenade Saucon Valley in 2023 additions include Club Champion, a custom golf club fitting company; Turning Point, a breakfast and lunch restaurant; FD Market, a sustainable-goods and refillery store; and Batch Microcreamery, offering super premium, hand-crafted ice cream.</div></body>

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‘Delicious feast’: Lehigh Valley’s newest Greek restaurant opening next week

UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. – Opa! A popular restaurant chain – serving up gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita and other Greek specialties – is preparing to open its first Pennsylvania location in Lehigh County. The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, a fast-casual chain serving a variety of authentic Greek dishes...

‘Delicious feast’: Lehigh Valley’s newest Greek restaurant opening next week

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