Nazareth Hardware Goes South (Main St)

The Express-Times reports on what I noticed driving down Main Street the other day - Nazareth Hardware has moved from North to South Main Street (read the article here).

Hobby Lobby to Open in Lower Nazareth

The Express-Times reports that Hobby Lobby will open in the former Redners location in Lower Nazareth (read the article here).

Target to Open Sunday

Target will open 23 stores nation-wide on Sunday including the store located in Lower Nazareth Township according to a press announcement posted on Fox Business (read it here).

According to the release the LN store will have an expanded food market:

The 17 expanded food stores offer all of the merchandise found in our general merchandise stores with the added convenience of fresh food. This new format has an open-market layout and features new food additions including basic fresh produce, fresh meat and bakery goods. Each expanded food format store employs 100-250 team members and is approximately 135,000 square feet.

Calandra's = Fresh Mozzarella

The Morning Call has a story on fresh mozzarella, in which they have some quotes from Sal Calandra (read the article here).

Anyone that has ever had cheese (any kind) from Calandra's knows there is no reason to look any further - this is as good as it gets!

Nazareth Company Noted in Boston Globe

The Boston Globe has an article on recycling/the environmental impact of old TV's and computer monitors (read the article here), in which a Nazareth company, Nicos Polymers and Grinding, is mentioned as one US based company that is taking these products and recycling them into material used to make new TV's.

In the article it notes:

Nicos’s chief executive, Kevin Cronin, said the company processes 80 million to a 100 million pounds of plastic a year, mostly to be reused as packaging material. But it can recast old TV set plastic for reuse in electronics.

Nazareth Car Wash

I had often wondered why the renovation of the Nazareth Car Wash on the south end of town had taken so long to complete. The Morning Call has an article today (read it here) noting that a Morristown, NJ man was sentenced to 1 to 7 years for bilking the Car Wash out of $92,500. The money was intented to purchase equipment to renovate the facility and was never purchased.

Unfortunately, it appears to have been a criminal case and it doesn't appear the Car Wash will recuperate the funds, at least not as of this trial.

Nicos Polymers Group of Nazareth

I had not heard of this company, but came across an article in Recycling Today (read it here) indicating that Nicos Polymers Group CEO, Kevin Cronin, spoke during the keynote session of the "Paper, Plastics and Electronics Recycling Conferences & Trade Show", June 7-9 in Atlanta.

The topic on everyone's mind was the impact of the recession on the industry.

Solar Farm Open House Big Success

The Express-Times reports that the solar farm in Upper Nazareth Township by LG Energy Solutions, which had an open house on Saturday drew 150 people including local politicians Rep. Charlie Dent, and State Reps. Craig Dally and Rich Grucella (read the article here).

Solar Farm in Upper Nazareth

The Express-Times reported on Sunday about a solar farm opening in Upper Nazareth Township, which is being developed by Nazareth graduate Tom McDonald (read it here).

The article was posted on Sunday, but notes opening is Saturday from 3-8 p.m. with a ceremony at 4. Wasn't clear on date as it wasn't identified, if someone knows, please post a comment!

Two Local Dealerships Impacted by Closings

Two Nazareth area dealerships have been hit by GM and Chrysler's decision to cut.

The Express-Times reports that Saturn at Route 33 will no longer have new vehicles and will only sell used vehicles (read the article here), and that Young Volkswagon, Mazda, Dodge, lost its Dodge franchise (read the article here).

Nazareth Market Place

I've not done much with advertising on NewsOverCoffee mostly because local businesses haven't appeared to be too interested and I haven't been very aggressive in selling.

My continued interest in new online products and services (such as Twitter, Friend Feed, etc) and internet marketing, led me to Nielsen Online Custom Survey from Web Visible, Inc. (visit their site here).

The survey was quite remarkable and explained to me why I haven't been successful to date, selling ads. It ought to be an eye opener for small businesses, as well as smaller non-profits. It sure was for me!

Some of the key takeaways from the survey:

• 82% of consumers use search engines to find local services and products
• 50% of consumers use search engines first
• 24% of consumers use the yellow pages first
• 10% of consumers use internet yellow pages first
  
• 44% of small businesses have a web site
• 51% of those with a web site feel its ability to acquire consumers was fair to poor

And, amazingly the survey revealed that small business owners themselves understand how to use the internet as a consumer, but have not applied their consumer knowledge to their own company's marketing effort.

I asked myself why? I'm guessing it is equal parts

• Tradition, doing what has worked in the past (ie purchase print ad, have sign out front, rely on word of mouth)
• Fear of the unknown - how much will it cost, how will I manage it, who can do it
• Time, Budget & Resources - Anyone with their own business can only do so much in a day, week or month and a web site is yet another item to manage on an already tight budget.

So I started thinking about all of this, along with NewsOverCoffee and came up with the Nazareth Market Place.

Simply put, this new sister site of NOC will be a low-cost entry for those without an existing site and provide benefit for those already with one by connecting businesses with local consumers online.

Consumers will benefit as the site grows because they won't have to search through pages of Google results to find businesses, shops, restaurants, and services that are nearby.

There are many aggregators out there and services that will list businesses, but none of those have a local resident managing them and they require the business owner to 'fill in the blanks' of a template. My plan is to help with copy, design, and marketing and take the burden of a site off the owner, while capturing the essence of what they want to sell or what they do best.

This is my first outreach regarding the site, so unfortunately you can't find businesses other than my own (Nunamaker Interactive, under which I'll sell the micro-sites and offer marketing services, and Longaberger Baskets, of which my wife has been a consultant for many years).

None-the-less, I'd appreciate any feedback on the new site, concept, services, pricing, etc. - available at www.nazarethmarket.com

Feel free to send a note editor@newsovercoffee.com or post a comment.

And if you are interested in joining the market place as a business contact me by email or call and we can discuss it - 610.759.3086.

Yelp - Local Reviews - Nationwide

Hadn't used yelp before, but wanted to find out about it as I saw that it was a fast growing social network site.

How does that relate to Nazareth?

Yelp is a social network site that sorts by geography and provides customer reviews of local businesses. Of couse, my initial inkling is to type in Nazareth, PA. I was pleasantly surprised to see more than a few shops and restaurants listed.

Visit the site here and be sure to add your reviews and favorite places to increase Nazareth's presence and help out these businesses.

New Business at ProLogis in LN

Both the Express-Times (read it here) and the Morning Call (read it here) report that B&G Foods will relocate is distribution to ProLogis' facilities in Lower Nazareth.

Fire at Rios

Both the Morning Call (read it here) and the Express-Times (read it here) report on a fire that took place at Rios on Broad Street yesterday before noon.

The fire reportedly destroyed the hood system and the restaurant will be closed for a week or so according to the articles.

84 Lumber in Stockertown is Closing

According to this in the Express Times, 84 Lumber in Stockertown is closing after nearly 33 years in business.

While Spokesman Jeff Nobers stated that "the buildings materials supplier typically depends more on contractors for its business than walk-in customers", I personally finished my basement three or four years ago, and purchased alot of supplies from 84 lumber. It was pretty close to my house, and when you strap six or so sheets of drywall to the top of your old Chevy Blazer, you don't want to have to drive very far (or fast).

Ranch House to be Snap Fitness?

The Morning Call reports that a Snap Fitness is to open on Schoeneck Avenue in Nazareth (read the article here).

It says very little else including the exact location, but one can only think the former Ranch House would be the probable location.

Tractor Supply Coming to Jandy Blvd

The Express-Times reports that Tractor Supply is going to be opening a store on Jandy Blvd (read the article here).

The Hot Dog Guy Goes National

I do have to get up to the Circle and have a hot dog before summer is over, which is coming up fast.

This thought was prompted when I came across WECT TV6 from Wilmington, NC's post on Nazareth's Hot Dog Guy (view it here)!

The post was complete with photos, but I think the intrigue is how Arthur made the life-changing decision to give up his trucking career to buy a hot dog cart and attempt to make a go of it.

I wouldn't be surprised if one of our presidential candidates try to use him as an example of the impact the economy is having on the lives of Americans.

Tong Shing Sues State in Federal Court

The Morning Call reports that Tong Shing Restaurant in Nazareth (across from Giant on 248) is suing the Commonwealth of PA in Federal Court (read the article here).

The suit stems from a charge that the local health inspector, who regularly received a 50% discount when eating at the restaurant, barged into the kitchen and found violations after only receiving a 20% discount.

There were a variety of charges to which the state claims there is no basis.

It also notes that Jin Fu Zhong sold the restaurant recently. He'd owned it for 17 years.

New Bistro to Open

The Express-Times reports that Bistro on Main Street will open on South Main where Dutch n' Such had been (read the article here).

The article notes they hope to be open by June 21 and will serve breakfast only on Sunday, breakfast and lunch on Tuesday through Saturday and dinner on Thursday through Saturday.