Couple to open UPS store in Shepherd’s Corner

A husband-and-wife team, Krunal “Ken” and Priya Patel, have plans to open a UPS Store in Shepherd’s Corner, a new six-unit strip mall just south of the Hamilton Crossings shopping center.  

They plan to open the store in two to three months when construction is complete and the store is fully outfitted.  

The strip mall has been in the works for more than two years but faced some pandemic related delays. 

The Patels closed on an SBA loan August 24 that will enable them to finance the project. Jeff Barber of Lehigh Financial Group LLC in Allentown arranged the SBA loan for them. 

Krunal Patel, of Reading, said he had been looking for the best location to open his UPS store for some time and was familiar with Allentown having worked there for several years.  

“I’m very excited to open in Allentown because it’s a growing area,” he said. Also, Patel said, due to COVID, more people are making online purchases and need mailing services. 

The UPS Store, Patel said, is the nation’s largest franchisor of retail shipping, postal, print and business service centers. It has about 5,000 locations across North America. 

Patel said his 1,500-square-foot store will offer shipping, shredding, printing, fax, passport photos and notary services. Also, the store will feature personal and business mailboxes. 

Patel had previous business experience as the owner of a tobacco store. 

The store will be located at 5585 Hamilton Boulevard.