COOPERSBURG, Pa. – A seasoned hospitality skilled, who’s labored at a few of the Lehigh Valley’s most distinguished eating institutions, is fulfilling a longtime dream of working his personal meals and beverage enterprise in Lehigh County.
Steven Zanders, a bar and restaurant veteran with greater than 20 years of expertise within the trade, final spring bought Sage Alley Brewery & Grille, at 213 N. Fundamental St. in Coopersburg.
Over the previous a number of months, he’s tapped his in depth resume and trade data to reinforce the shopper expertise with new beers, eats, occasions and extra.
The brewery’s staff is pushed by a dedication to high quality, creativity and group engagement.
“With a ardour for craft beer and a imaginative and prescient for elevated hospitality, we got down to construct upon the stable basis laid in 2018 and propel Sage Alley Brewery & Grille to new heights,” Zanders mentioned. “Since buying the brewery, we’ve been exhausting at work implementing our imaginative and prescient for development and innovation.”
Zanders, of Easton, took the reins from the brewery’s authentic homeowners, Russell Armstrong and Heather Lloyd, who debuted the enterprise in June 2018.
Prior to buying Sage Alley, Zanders held quite a lot of positions – together with server, bartender and supervisor – at well-known eating places akin to Diner 248 in Decrease Nazareth Township, Carrabba’s Italian Grill in South Whitehall Township and Hunan Springs in Decrease Macungie Township.
He additionally had gigs at former in style spots akin to J.P. O’Malley’s in Allentown, Jack Callaghan’s Ale Home in Allentown and Mango’s Coastal Delicacies in South Whitehall.
Sage Alley Brewery & Grille proprietor Steven Zanders poses inside his craft brewery on North Fundamental Avenue in Coopersburg.
“I’ve labored at so many nice eating places over time, however I all the time had this longing to personal my very own enterprise and work for myself,” Zanders mentioned.
“I’ve held nearly each place conceivable within the restaurant trade – from dishwasher to supervisor, and I’m genuinely passionate in regards to the hospitality trade – the individuals, the meals, the drinks, the whole lot. I didn’t notice it on the time, however working in any respect of these eating places over time ready me for what I’m doing now. It was type of like casual analysis and growth.”
Sage Alley, named after the alley behind the constructing, options quite a lot of indoor and out of doors area for friends to chill out whereas having fun with drinks, meals and pleasant dialog.
The indoor taproom options seating for round 65 friends at a mixture of bar stools, high- and low-top tables and upholstered lounge furnishings nestled close to a gasoline fire.
There’s a U-shaped bar, with an ambrosia maple high, together with cozy decor like fake greenery and string lights that grasp from the ceiling.
A spotlight of the brewery is its ample out of doors lodging, that includes hearth pits, Adirondack chairs and yard video games akin to corn gap.
An enclosed entrance porch could be heated or cooled relying on the season, whereas a rear patio options quite a lot of seating beneath umbrellas and a picket pergola.
A meals trailer that’s parked on the patio provides quite a lot of made-from-scratch dishes, together with starters akin to shrimp skewers, Buffalo hen dip and roasted Brussels sprouts; and handhelds akin to numerous tacos, hen sandwiches (crispy breaded or grilled marinated) and Oxford grilled cheese (Texas toast layered with sharp white cheddar, pepper jack, Swiss and American cheeses and non-compulsory thick-cut Saylor’s bacon).
There’s additionally an array of 6- by 16-inch pizzas, together with Sizzled (pepperoni, jalapenos, purple sauce and mozzarella) and Jersey Boardwalk (Saylor’s floor sausage, purple bell peppers, purple sauce and mozzarella).
Widespread meals alternatives embrace garlic cheese curds and hand-cut fries (conventional or Outdated Bay).
Zanders enjoys collaborating with the chef on weekly meals specials, and the brewery additionally provides vacation options akin to a salmon entree for Mom’s Day, shepherd’s pie and corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day and oven-baked ham with honey-glazed carrots, grilled asparagus, baked potato and toasted roll for Easter.
“In the case of the specials, the chef and I bounce numerous concepts off of one another,” Zanders mentioned. “A few of our top-selling gadgets from the common menu embrace our garlic cheese curds, pierogies, boneless and bone-in wings and contemporary 8-ounce burgers, that are simply unimaginable. Our slow-roasted pulled pork and pulled hen tacos are additionally extraordinarily in style.”
For Sage Alley’s beer, Zanders additionally works intently with new head brewer Matt King on a wide selection of rotating alternatives.
A couple of Sage Alley staples, together with a blueberry lager, carried over from the earlier homeowners, however a majority of the brewery’s beers are contemporary creations, Zanders mentioned.
Widespread alternatives embrace Denim (West Coast IPA), Paddle Shack (New England hazy IPA), Arrogantly Humble (amber ale), Mango Tree (tart ale) and Midnight Moo’mild (milk stout).
Beers can be found in 5-, 13- and 16-ounce pours together with flights (4 5-ounce pours).
The brewery includes a seven-barrel brewing system, which is housed in a rear constructing adjoining to Sage Alley. The construction is adorned with a newly painted mural, showcasing vibrant inexperienced hops and different colourful designs.
Prospects can also get pleasure from quite a lot of different specialty drinks, together with native wines, made-on-site exhausting seltzer (accessible in flavors akin to blackberry, lime, ardour fruit and extra) and basic and signature cocktails, made with spirits from native distilleries akin to County Seat Spirits, Eight Oaks Farm Distillery and Xplorer Spirits.
Traditional cocktails embrace alternatives akin to a mimosa, mojito and Manhattan, whereas featured cocktails embrace picks akin to an Alley Apple Palmer, Honey-Kissed Bourbon Lemonade and Pickle ‘Rita.
“In the case of the beer, I’ll usually discuss to Matt about taste profiles that I’d prefer to be featured, and he brings them to life,” Zanders mentioned.
“He’s positively the scientist behind all of our scrumptious creations. We each prefer to strive new recipes and wish there to be variety in our choices. As a lot as IPAs promote quite a bit, we really wish to provide one thing for everybody, and that’s why you’ll see a mixture of IPAs, stouts, porters, a tart or bitter, pilsner, hefeweizen and so forth. We rotate them continuously.”
Zanders additionally has a robust curiosity in craft spirits, and he was taking courses in Northampton Group School’s craft distillery program whereas pursuing the acquisition of Sage Alley final yr.
This system covers the basics of distillation operations, high quality management, sensory evaluation and extra.
“I used to be really trying to open a craft distillery earlier than buying Sage Alley,” Zanders mentioned.
“My girlfriend despatched me an advert for the brewery, and I had by no means been right here beforehand. So, I came around, and as quickly as I walked by the door, I used to be struck by its magnificence. I informed my girlfriend that we have to come again to eat to see if it’s actually a great match. So, we got here again and had a meal, which was unbelievable, and I knew at that time that I used to be going all in.”
Along with including new beers and meals options, Zanders has enhanced the taproom expertise with new TVs and aesthetic touches akin to hand-crafted picket faucet markers.
The brewery continues to host reside music acts all year long and likewise options bingo and trivia occasions.
A Pay-It-Ahead Canine Tag program offers army veterans with their first beer free.
“We help our group as a result of the group helps us,” Zanders mentioned. “The love that individuals present us is large, and everybody has been so welcoming of me this primary yr. I can’t wait to see the longer term progress of this brewery.”
Sage Alley Brewery & Grille is open 4-9 p.m. Thursdays, midday to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and midday to 7 p.m. Sundays.
For the newest updates, comply with the enterprise’ pages on Facebook and Instagram. Data: sagealleybrewery.com.
Extra tasty information
‘Well worth the wait!’: Iconic Phillipsburg-area diner units reopening date almost 2 years after hearth
LOPATCONG TWP., N.J. — After an virtually two-year hiatus, a key a part of Warren County’s eating scene is about to return subsequent week.
Key Metropolis Diner, a family-run diner established in 1955 at 985 Route 22 in Lopatcong Township, will reopen to the general public at 7 a.m. Monday following in depth renovations necessitated by harm from a fireplace in 2022, co-owner Greg Theodoropoulos mentioned.
“We can’t wait to welcome the group again,” Theodoropoulos mentioned.
“For the previous yr and a half, our Fb and Instagram accounts have been getting messages nonstop from individuals asking, ‘When are you reopening? When are you reopening?’ We most likely had shut to three,000 messages from individuals asking us this query. Properly, the time has lastly come!” Full story here.
Key Metropolis Diner co-owner Greg Theodoropoulos sits on the counter of his newly renovated restaurant, which is about to reopen subsequent week at 985 Route 22 in Lopatcong Township.
‘Dream come true’: Longtime chef opening new restaurant at South Mall
SALISBURY TWP., Pa. – A mom of 4 is planning to deliver a bit little bit of soul – soul meals, that’s – to a distinguished purchasing middle in Lehigh County.
S&D SOULicious Delicacies, a fast-casual restaurant specializing in made-from-scratch soul meals akin to fried hen, catfish, shrimp, collard greens, candied yams, macaroni and cheese and extra, is anticipated to open within the fall on the South Mall in Salisbury Township, proprietor and chef Shayvonne Terry-Rivera mentioned.
The eatery, with seating for round 20 friends, will occupy an inside area close to Ohana WonderTown Playground.
The restaurant can be an extension of S&D SOULicious Delicacies’s meals trailer, which commonly visits native breweries, wineries, festivals and different venues. Read more here.
New espresso retailers
Lehigh Valley’s latest espresso store serving up tasty drinks, retro and colourful vibes
EASTON, Pa. – Laura Fay is not any stranger to the native craft beverage scene.
For 5 years, she beforehand operated the now-closed Separatist Beer Venture, an Easton-based brewery with two regional taprooms, along with her ex-husband, Joe Percoco Fay.
Now, she’s persevering with to comply with her ardour for crafting high-quality drinks by exploring drinks that extra intently align along with her personal pursuits.
In late Could, Fay opened Spectracolor Espresso Roasters, a vibrant espresso store with indoor and out of doors seating, on the Simon Silk Mill in Easton. Read more.
Starbucks continues regional enlargement with new drive-thru location
EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – A brand new vacation spot for caramel macchiato, vanilla candy cream chilly brew and different Starbucks specialty drinks is now welcoming prospects.
The espresso store chain’s latest regional location opened Friday, June 7, at 115 Brown St. in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County.
The two,300-square-foot cafe, with a drive-thru, occupies a portion of a newly constructed, multi-unit retail constructing close to Walmart.
The brand new construction, which additionally will characteristic a Wingstop eatery, was constructed on the website of a former Pleasant’s restaurant. Full story here.
Lehigh County odds and ends
Assist native artists, store one-of-a-kind works at new Promenade Saucon Valley gallery
U. SAUCON TWP., Pa. – A brand new tenant popping up at Promenade Saucon Valley is spotlighting work, glass items and different inventive works by a few of the Lehigh Valley’s most gifted artists.
Lehigh Artwork Alliance, an area nonprofit high quality artwork group targeted on exhibiting and selling the artwork of its members, held a gap reception for its new pop-up gallery on Friday, June 14, on the Higher Saucon Township purchasing middle.
The gallery, in Suite 819 (throughout from L.L. Bean, can be open Fridays by Sundays all through the summer time for friends to discover and buy stunning art work by native artists. Read more here.
SangriaFest returns to Lehigh Valley this Saturday
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – SangriaFest is coming again to the Lehigh Valley.
ArtsQuest says the occasion can be held on Saturday, June 14, at Grange Park in Higher Macungie Township from 4 to 7 p.m. with premium entry from 3 to 4 p.m.
The rain date is Sunday from 1 to five p.m.
The afternoon will characteristic meals, music, enjoyable and, after all, sangria, based on a information launch from ArtsQuest. Full story here.
Berks, Montgomery counties
Stokesay Fortress to renovate ballroom
LOWER ALSACE TWP., Pa. – A Berks County landmark and premier occasion venue is about to bear some large adjustments.
Officers introduced Wednesday the upcoming renovation of Stokesay Fortress’s ballroom.
The renovation, set to start in mid-June, will concentrate on new carpet, built-in hardwood dance flooring, stone accents, ornate chandeliers and new doorways.
Along with indoor enhancements, the venture will even improve the façade of each the ballroom and terrace with extra ambient lighting. Read more here.
2 indoor pickleball services coming to Montco
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. — Two devoted indoor pickleball services are coming to Montgomery County this summer time.
Dill Dinkers is opening its first two services in Hatboro and Lansdale this August, based on a information launch from All Factors Public Relations.
The pickleball services can be situated at 330 S Warminster Rd. in Hatboro and 1180 Church Rd. in Lansdale, based on the information launch.
Dill Dinkers in Hatboro may have 19 devoted indoor courts and Lansdale may have 11 devoted indoor courts with fences, an occasion area, a ball machine, a professional store, and a state-of-the-art reservation system powered by CourtReserve for members and guests, based on the information launch. Read more.
Sesame Avenue Reside! returns to Studying this fall
READING, Pa. – Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster and all of your favourite buddies are making the journey from Sesame Avenue to Studying this fall.
Sesame Avenue Reside! Say Whats up is coming to Santander Performing Arts Heart for 2 reveals on November 23, 2024.
Attendees are invited to sing, dance and play alongside their favourite Sesame Avenue buddies, all whereas following Elmo’s pet, Tango, in a enjoyable recreation of cover & search. Full story here.
Closing notes
‘Thanks for leaping with us’: Lehigh Valley trampoline park closes indefinitely
BETHELEHEM TWP., Pa. – A preferred spot for bouncy enjoyable has ceased operations indefinitely in Northampton County.
FreeFall Trampoline Park, a 33,000-square-foot facility providing trampoline actions akin to basketball, dodgeball and open leaping, is closed indefinitely at 2800 Baglyos Circle in Bethlehem Township, based on a message posted Tuesday on the enterprise’ social media pages.
“As a result of unexpected circumstances, Freefall Trampoline Park can be closed indefinitely, efficient instantly,” the announcement reads.
“We can be reaching out to anybody with booked occasions. We thanks for all of your persistence throughout this time and thanks for leaping with us by the years.” Read more here.
Wells Fargo to shut downtown Bethlehem department in spectacular constructing on Broad Avenue
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Wells Fargo will shut its downtown Bethlehem department in August, and is directing prospects to make use of workplaces in South Bethlehem, the Westgate Mall and Allentown as digital finance marches on.
The department at 52 W. Broad St. is in an imposing Greek Revival-style constructing with columns, a block from Fundamental Avenue. It’s also simply west of the positioning of the previous Boyd Theater, which is being transformed to flats.
Wells Fargo has closed a number of branches within the area as prospects transfer towards banking by cellphone, not in workplaces. Read more.
Widespread West Studying restaurant proclaims closing
WEST READING, Pa. – A preferred West Studying restaurant is closing its doorways for good.
Say Cheese! introduced on Fb that the enterprise is closing Saturday, June 15.
The restaurant is owned by Adam Cocuzza, who not too long ago introduced that his Nitro Bar and West Studying Motor Membership had been additionally closing indefinitely. Full story here.