Beer Distributor Coming to Hellertown

The Hellertown area has been without a beer distributor since the abrupt closure of Oasis Beer at the Creekside Marketplace shopping center last year. But that is about to change, according to information presented by Borough Engineer Bryan Smith at Hellertown Borough Council's April 4 meeting.

According to Smith, who is an engineer with Barry Isett and Associates, a distributorship will soon be opening in a vacant building at Water and Front streets in Hellertown.

Although he could not tell council members exactly when the beer store will open, he said it appears the owners of the new business want to "move pretty quickly."

"The owner did call me this afternoon and said he had the sign up already," Smith said.

He added that the owners of the planned Hellertown beer distributorship already operate a similar business in Easton, called .

Frank & Dot's is located at 102 Bushkill Street in Easton, near the Delaware River.

In a separate update, Smith told council members that is still expected to occur sometime early this summer.

Because of mandatory reviews by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), "in the end it looks like possibly as early as mid June for the demolition," he announced.

Smith added that the contractor who will perform the demolition of the 101-year-old school building on Northampton Street "is holding and will move forward" once the approvals are all in place.

In response to a question from a council member, Smith confirmed that he has been in regular contact with the contractor.