Campus Shop Sold In West End Allentown?

It looks like it, although I suspect the final transaction would be contingent on the new developer receiving approval to make a few changes from Allentown's city zoning board.

Proposed West End convenience store faces opposition from tavern owner
Author: Randy Kraft, WFMZ.com

"Developer Jason Lund proposes turning the Campus Shop into a high-end convenience market, which will serve both the surrounding residential neighborhood and students at neighboring Muhlenberg College. He contends most of his customers will walk or ride bicycles to the store."
COMMENTARYFirst off I have to hand it to former reporter for the Morning Call, Randy Kraft. It appears he was the only one at the zoning meeting from our local media. Great reporting too. Good job!

I think this is great news for the neighborhood. However I'm sorry to hear that Gordon and his wife will be selling the store. I've wondered so many times how the two of them could continue to make a go of it. It appears to me, as a customer, the only thing that sustained them was the small amount of money they made off of the postal substation and the lottery ticket sales. I hope this is something the two of them wanted to do and not because the store wasn't bringing in enough.

That said, the main objections before city zoning was both it's potential 'overuse' and parking. Before one decides either way, one needs consider a little bit of the 'Campus Shop's' former history. Prior to Gordon buying it this was a soda fountain shop with a grill for cooking hamburgers, hot dogs and the like. In it's day students would pack the place. The store once rented out a small beauty salon to the rear and a barber shop below (Tony's). Tony was my barber for years and was getting up in age when he left several years ago. Both have been empty for years now.

What this developer is planning to do with it is not it's 'overuse', but rather restoring it back to the days when it was fully utilized. I would have trouble understanding why it was OK back then and why it wouldn't be now. The properties across the street and to the West of the store on Liberty Street are all owned by Muhlenberg College. As are all the homes to it's East. Therefore I do not see parking being a problem for residents. This question should not be about it becoming 'overused' but rather why it has been so 'underused' these many years?

I think it's safe to presume the 'Campus Shop' generates so little sales, that other then property taxes, the city likely receives little revenue from it. If someone is willing to invest in this business to upgrade it and generate some taxpaying profits from the only privately owned building for a block on that side of the street, I'm all for it.