WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – A space that previously housed Forever 21 will soon be occupied by another retailer selling dresses, T-shirts and other clothing in Whitehall Township.
Waikiki, a teen and women’s fashion retailer, is coming soon to the space previously occupied by Forever 21 on the Lehigh Valley Mall’s upper level, near the escalators.
A new location of Waikiki, a teen and women’s fashion retailer, is coming soon to the former Forever 21 space on the Lehigh Valley Mall’s upper level in Whitehall Township.
Other Waikiki stores operate across the country at other prominent shopping destinations, including the San Francisco Premium Outlets; Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City; and St. Charles Towne Center in Waldorf, Maryland.
Stores also sell belts, purses and other fashion accessories.
It’s unclear exactly when the Waikiki location in Whitehall will open.
Sherry Smith, the Lehigh Valley Mall’s marketing administrator, expects the new Waikiki store to open later this year but is unsure of the target time frame.
Recent mall openings
The new Whitehall location of Waikiki will follow a string of other new Lehigh Valley Mall tenants.
First, Carter’s, Inc., a leading apparel company for babies and young children, in late March opened a new retail location on the mall’s upper level.
The 3,200 square-foot store features a wide assortment of “on-trend, affordable baby and children’s clothing for preemie to size 14, gifts and accessories” from Carter’s house of brands, including Carter’s, OshKosh B’gosh, Little Planet, and Skip Hop, according to a news release.
Carter’s is known for delivering stylish apparel with comfort and value at its core, making it the most trusted kids brand for seven generations of parents.
“We’re excited to bring Carter’s to the Whitehall, Pennsylvania, community,” said Paul Rabaut, the company’s senior director of go-to-market & retail marketing.
“With our signature quality, value, and on-trend styles, we’re making it easier than ever for parents to find everything they need for their growing families —all in one place.”
Carter’s, Inc. is the largest branded marketer in North America of apparel exclusively for babies and young children, according to a business description.
The Atlanta-headquartered company owns the Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh brands, two of the most recognized brands in the marketplace, which are sold through more than 1,000 Company-operated stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as online at carters.com, oshkosh.com, cartersoshkosh.ca, and carters.com.mx.
Other Lehigh Valley locations of Carter’s operate at Promenade Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon Township and the Airport Shopping Center in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.
Address for Him, offering casual and formal menswear, shoes and accessories, operates on the Lehigh Valley Mall’s upper level.
Second, Address for Him, offering casual and formal menswear, shoes and accessories, opened March 8 on the mall’s upper level near Macy’s, Address for Him owner Abraham Morsi said.
Shoppers can browse a wide assortment of men’s fashions, including suits, tuxedos, collared shirts, T-shirts, pants and socks.
There are also shoes and accessories such as belts, cufflinks and neck ties.
“We combine the best of European elegance with American design to create timeless, comfortable pieces,” a message on Address for Him’s website reads.
“At Address for Him, quality matters—our fabrics are carefully chosen, and each design is made to last. We offer fashion that works for everyday life, bringing style and comfort together in every piece.”
Address for Him, offering casual and formal menswear, shoes and accessories, operates on the Lehigh Valley Mall’s upper level.
The new Address for Him store carries suits from top designers such as Calvin Klein, DKNY and Tommy Hilfiger, and select styles are currently 30% off their original pricing, Morsi said.
MINISO, a global value retailer offering a variety of “trendy lifestyle products” including toys, home decor, tableware, fashion accessories and health and beauty items, opened its first Lehigh Valley location about a month ago on the mall’s lower level next to Bath & Body Works.
MINISO has more than 7,100 stores worldwide, and individuals visiting the Whitehall location can shop a wide variety of items, including toys, puzzles, keychains and plush figures; fashion accessories such as socks, slippers, sunglasses, baseball hats and handbags; and household items such as pillows, bath towels, floor mats, soap dispensers and drinkware and flatware.
The store also sells snacks such as candy and chips; personal care products such as bath sponges, hand creams, hair brushes and cotton swabs; and hair accessories such as bows, clips and headbands.
A MINISO store operates at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township.
Shoppers will find items showcasing well-known pop culture characters, including Hello Kitty, Winnie the Pooh, The Powerpuff Girls and Peanuts characters such as Snoopy and Woodstock.
Joseph & Co. Jewelers opened Feb. 8 in a lower-level space near the escalators.
The spot previously housed Rêver, a store selling menswear, shoes and accessories, which recently moved to a nearby lower-level space.
Joseph & Co., offering a wide array of fine jewelry, is affiliated with Joseph Jacob Jewelers, a New York City-headquartered jewelry company with more than 20 retail locations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida, manager Eddie Bitar said.
Another Joseph & Co. store opened in late 2024 at the Willow Grove Park Mall in Montgomery County, Bitar said.
Joseph & Co. Jewelers operates at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township.
In Whitehall, customers can shop a variety of rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces.
There are also watches from top brands such as Invicta, Seiko and Michael Kors.
“We design and make our own jewelry,” Bitar said.
“We’re very known for our beautiful and high-quality bridal selections, and we also can work with customers to create a custom design. So, for example, you could bring a picture or sketch of the ring of your dreams and we can bring that vision to life.”
Businesses opening at the Lehigh Valley Mall in late 2024 include Game Box Arcade, a traditional arcade concept where players use quarters to play various games, which opened in December on the lower level next to Boscov’s; As Seen On TV, a store carrying a wide assortment of unique products seen on TV including household items, tech gadgets, fitness equipment, kitchen utensils, toys and seasonal decor, which opened in early November on the upper level next to The Children’s Place; Spice n Shake, a fast-casual eatery specializing in custom French fries gently shaken in your choice of signature seasoning and chicken items available in unique sauces, which opened Nov. 14 on the mall’s upper level across from LensCrafters; Perfume City, a store offering a wide assortment of men’s and women’s fragrances, which opened in November on the upper level next to Claire’s; and Fit Leggy, a store offering women’s leggings, legging sets, socks and accessories such as handbags, which opened in early November on the lower level next to Lids.
Coming-soon tenants
Other businesses are also coming soon to the mall.
Dry Goods, a women’s fashion retailer offering clothing, shoes and accessories, is expected to open in mid-summer in a lower-level spot that was previously home to clothing retailer Austin 5, according to Jessica Stoltz, Dry Goods’ director of advertising and e-marketing.
Dry Goods, a subsidiary of Iowa-headquartered department store chain Von Maur, offers a variety of apparel, including dresses, jeans, jumpsuits, loungewear, pants, shorts, skirts, sweaters, T-shirts, vests and outerwear, along with footwear such as boots, sneakers, sandals and slippers.
A Dry Goods store is coming soon to a lower-level spot near Victoria’s Secret at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township.
Customers also can shop accessories such as hats, handbags, jewelry and sunglasses.
Dry Goods has more than 80 open or coming soon locations in 24 states, including two other Pennsylvania locations in the Pittsburgh area, according to the company’s website.
Not far from the forthcoming Dry Goods store, a location of Dunkin’, the country’s largest coffee and doughnuts brand, is expected to open on the Lehigh Valley Mall’s lower level near the escalators this spring, according to the mall’s website.
The new Dunkin’ location will occupy a kiosk that was previously home to a Starbucks location, which closed last year.
A Dunkin’ location is coming soon to the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township.
Founded by Bill Rosenberg in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts, Dunkin’ is owned by Atlanta-based Inspire Brands, a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio also includes Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, SONIC Drive-In, Rusty Taco and Jimmy John’s.
In addition to coffee and doughnuts, the chain offers a variety of other food and beverages, including sandwiches and Wake-Up Wraps, frozen drinks like Coolatas and frozen matcha lattes and baked goods such as bagels, croissants and muffins.
Dunkin’ has more than 13,700 restaurants in nearly 40 global markets.
Also on the mall’s lower level, Star Park Indoor Playground & Party is expected to open in late spring in space that previously housed various retailers, including Track 23 and Modell’s Sporting Goods, according to Smith.
The expansive facility will offer a unique, interactive play area where children ages 12 and under can climb, play, explore, and use their imaginations in a clean, bright and colorful world filled with a variety of fun, according to an online description.
“Your child will be thrilled to celebrate his or her birthday with friends at a fully personalized, fun and entertaining birthday party at Star Park Indoor Playground,” the description continues.
Other Star Park locations operate at the Franklin Mall in Philadelphia and Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
The facilities offer “challenging fun” with various play equipment, including climbing structures, crawling tunnels, slides, swings and more.
They’re suitable for a wide array of events, including parent play dates, field trips, parties and more.
“Star Park Indoor Playground provides a fun environment for kids to play while giving parents a place to relax,” a message on Star Park’s website reads.
“We believe playtime should be a break from screens and an opportunity for creativity to flourish. Our facility offers parents a chance to unwind and connect while their children enjoy themselves.”
A final coming-soon tenant is D’Colombia Restaurant & Bakery, which is expected to open later this spring, Smith said.
D’Colombia Restaurant & Bakery will specialize in empanadas and other baked goods, Smith said. The counter-service shop will fill the space recently vacated by Indian Bite, a take-out eatery offering authentic Indian cuisine.
Other recent changes
The Lehigh Valley Mall, which debuted in 1976 and added an outdoor lifestyle center in 2007, is home to more than 140 businesses, including anchor department stores Boscov’s, Macy’s and JCPenney.
Earlier in 2024, the mall welcomed a host of other new stores and restaurants, including interactive golf store chain Golf Galaxy; furniture store Furniture & Linen; sports gear retailer Rally House; a second location of watch retailer Time On My Hands; Stone Haven, a store offering natural stone jewelry other related natural products; and the Lehigh Valley’s first Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant.
An Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant location operates at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township.
While new tenants are joining the mix, the Lehigh Valley Mall has also recently said goodbye to some businesses.
Pocono Brewery Company’s Lehigh Valley taproom – offering local craft beer, wood-fired pizzas and more – closed in February at the Lehigh Valley Mall’s outdoor lifestyle center, head brewer Jean-Luc Vitiello told 69 News.
The Lehigh Valley taproom opened in early 2019 at the former Ann Taylor space and supplemented Pocono Brewery Company’s flagship location, which continues to operate at 2092 Route 611 in the Swiftwater section of Pocono Township, Monroe County.
“Due to the opening of the brewery near us, the competition became an issue,” Vitiello said, referencing the newly opened Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant location at Lehigh Valley Mall. “We’re looking to open another location in a more welcoming community, maybe in Bethlehem or Easton.”
In recent months, airsoft shooting gallery Battlestar, jewelry and accessories chain Icing, Indian eatery Indian Bite and Hairitage Beauty Salon also vacated their Lehigh Valley Mall locations.
Hairitage Beauty Salon has relocated its Lehigh County salon to 429 Front St. in Catasauqua, where it has added manicures, pedicures and other nail services to its offerings, according to the business’ Instagram page.
In the summer, the mall bid farewell to Rivals Indoor Battlefield; a Starbucks kiosk; Ardene, a fashion retailer with more than 250 stores worldwide; and Face Foundrié, a chain of all-inclusive focused facial bars.
Additionally, a Perfume Galaxy store – selling a wide array of men’s and women’s fragrances – recently closed after less than six months of business on the mall’s upper level; and fashion retailer Forever 21 recently shuttered its Lehigh Valley Mall location amid the company’s latest bankruptcy filing.
