The former Forks Diner has been bought to be converted into an auto repair business – PHOTO/PROVIDED
A full-service auto repair business is expanding into Forks Township, Northampton County, to accommodate its growth.
Partners Dave Fiore and Sherief Elsamra bought the old Forks Diner at 3315 Sullivan Trail for $650,000. Plans, they said, are to convert the 5,000-square-foot property into a 6-bay auto repair shop to be called Your Mechanic PA LLC.
Lehigh Financial Group, LLC in Allentown arranged more than $1 million for the partners to acquire the property and convert it into an auto repair shop.
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. They are looking to open the new shop by early spring, they said.
Sullivan Parke at 2250 Lafayette Park Drive in Forks Township. –
A new apartment building has opened in Forks Township. Already fully leased, with move ins starting this month, Sullivan Parke is located at 2250 Lafayette Park Drive.
The new building, billed as luxury apartments, is the first of four under development by Ashley Development Corp.
There are 102 units of open concept one-bedroom, one-bedroom with den and two-bedroom floor plans ranging from 806 to 1,315 square feet.
The new building features a fitness center, a third-floor lounge with balcony, on-site parking, elevators and privacy-style landscaping with 45-foot-tall trees.
Each open concept unit has a private balcony or patio, a washer/dryer and walk-in closets.
“The demand for housing, including apartments, remains high for Northampton County, which is why we are proud to have developed this premier apartment community,” said developer Lou Pektor of Ashley Development.
Ashley has also recently developed such multi-family projects as Birchwood Commons and Bethlehem Fields.
Leasing for Sullivan Park is being handled by Amy Harris of House & Land Real Estate.
A company that manufactures assembly parts and equipment for the military is locating in Forks Township.
D. Gillette Industrial Services is moving to the location with the help of a 10-year $380,000 low interest loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority.
DGI is spending around $1 million to acquire a 26,227-square-foot, multi-building warehouse and office facility in Forks. Officials said the company outgrew its 9,000-square-foot building in Bangor. The new facility will allow DGI to increase its production capacity and keep up with the demand.
It also plans to add six full-time jobs over the next three years.
The property includes two adjacent lots totaling more than three acres. The adjacent lot will allow the company to expand further in the future as it takes on larger contracts.
Founded in 2002, DGI specializes in the design, fabrication, repair and assembly of parts and equipment for military customers’ assets.
Crayola has reached its goal of 100% renewable energy use. PHOTO/SUBMITTED –
No matter which color you choose, your Crayola crayon will be green.
The Forks Township-based manufacturer of crayons and other art supplies said it is now using 100% renewable energy for its operations.
The company is also celebrating the tenth anniversary of its solar farm. The 20-acre solar farm includes more than 33,000 panels and produces enough energy to make 3 billion crayons and 700 million markers each year.
Partnering with Energy Power Partners, UGI, Baltimore County Renewable Energy Project, Lancaster County Waste Management, and state and local governments, this year Crayola reached its goal of 100% renewable energy.
“Our legacy of sustainability began when the company harnessed the power of the Bushkill Creek to generate electricity to manufacture slate pencils and chalk in the early 1900s,” said Pete Ruggiero, COO at Crayola. “Over the past ten years, we have been able to manufacture 10 billion crayons and 7 billion markers with the power of the sun.”
The company is marketing its renewable energy use on its products. A note on each box of crayons lets customers know that it was made with solar power.
A.P. Deauville, a marketer and manufacturer of men’s personal care products, is moving from New Jersey and will purchase and renovate an 180,000-square-foot facility in Forks Township. PHOTO/COURTESY LVEDC –
A health and beauty products manufacturer is moving to the Lehigh Valley to meet its growth needs.
A.P. Deauville LLC, which manufacturers the Power Stick brand of anti-perspirant, body wash and body sprays, will invest $16.7 million to move its headquarters and manufacturing operations from New Brunswick, New Jersey, to Forks Township. The move is expected to create 105 new jobs in the region over the next three years.
The company plans to purchase and renovate an 180,000-square-foot facility doubling its current manufacturing capacity in New Jersey. Deauville plans to spend $9 million to acquire the facility, $5 million for machinery and equipment and $2 million in renovations.
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development offered the company a $250,000 Pennsylvania First grant to be distributed upon the creation of the new jobs and $50,000 for job training.
“A.P. Deauville is excited to start the next phase of growth in Pennsylvania and could not have made this move without the help of the Governor’s Action Team, which helped us secure significant statewide tax incentives and grants that made it a very easy decision for us to relocate to Pennsylvania,” said Frederick Horowitz, CEO of A.P. Deauville LLC.
Gov. Tom Wolf welcomed the company’s move to the Lehigh Valley.
“The Lehigh Valley is a region historically known for its manufacturing strength and we are pleased that A.P. Deauville is relocating its operations here,” he said. “The need for A.P. Deauville to more than double its production space to keep up with consumer demand is a testament to the company’s growth, and it will result in a significant and long-term investment and 105 new well-paying manufacturing jobs for Pennsylvanians.”
The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. and Northampton County Industrial Development Authority helped in luring the company to the region. The NCIDA awarded a $105,000 Job Creation Grant Program to Deauville to offset the cost of machinery and equipment.
“This is exactly the kind of project NCIDA exists to support: one that creates high-quality, high-paying jobs in a key target sector for the Lehigh Valley economy,” said Marilyn Lieberman, chair of the NCIDA. “We’re so pleased we could play a role in helping bring this company to Northampton County and to support their future growth and success here in the Lehigh Valley.”
The company has been encouraged to apply for a Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) loan and may also be eligible for DCED’s Manufacturing Tax Credit program.
Deauville sells its products at national retailers such as CVS, Stop & Shop, Menards, Foodtown, Giant Foods, ShopRite, Hannafords, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar.
Don Cunningham, president and CEO of the LVEDC said Lehigh Valley’s central location and proximity to markets will help the company continue selling its brands to major retailers.
As an employer, wages at A.P. Deauville range from $15 per hour for production workers to $100,000 annually for senior management.
“This is exactly the kind of development we want to encourage in Northampton County,” said Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure. “A.P. Deauville will be a wonderful addition to our business community.”
The new facility will be at 3700 Glover Road in Forks Township. The company hopes to complete renovations by October and be up and running by the end of the year.
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