Moravian To Build New Restaurant at New Health and Sciences Building

Moravian's Mark Reed explains the project. 

Moravian College is currently in the middle of building a $23 million Health Sciences building at its Main Street campus. A 55,000 sq ft three story facility, named after alumna Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz, should be finished in July. But Mark Reed, Vice President for Finance and Administration at the College, was before Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board May 31 to discuss a 2,500 sq ft restaurant planned at the site for students. Though the restaurant itself is permitted, Moravian needed permission for an exterior entrance onto Main Street.

Reed explained that there's a need for a restaurant there because the college enrollment is growing. Its current student population is 1,750, but Reed expects it will reach 2,000 soon.

The restaurant has a 90-person capacity. It will supplement an existing restaurant at the Haupert Union Building, located a block away. There will be no smoking and no alcoholic beverages. The restaurant will be open from 7 am until 8 pm, but only during the normal school year. Though the general public can be served there, there will be no signs advertising it. He expects that it will be used only by students and faulty. There will be no grill, and it will be a light fare consisting of soup, salads, sandwiches and coffee.

"In other words, you're talking about health food?" queried Chair Gus Loupos. Reed said more or less, and Loupos responded, "You don't have to worry about me coming."

Neighbors expressed some concern, but it was mostly about the ongoing construction, which starts early each morning. "Let's make as much noise and dirt as possible, starting at 5:30 am," complained neighbor Joe Golden. But he had no objection with the exterior door. "I'm OK with the door. You have my blessing on the door."

The Zoning Hearing Board gave its blessing, too. Unanimously, the application for an exterior door was approved.