Easton Candle Co. opening first brick-and-mortar store – The Morning Call

Valentine’s Day is right around a corner, and for the romantics looking to supplement their usual gifts of chocolates and flowers, a shop in downtown Easton is opening just in time to show your sweetheart how bright the love burns.
Easton Candle Co., offering locally made, all-natural soy wax candles in unique scents like Blue Mountain and Sunday brunch, will hold a grand opening of its first brick-and-mortar shop 10 a.m. Feb. 12 at 117 N. Third St., a few doors down from Cake & Corolla bakery, cafe and flower shop.
The business was established in 2016 by owner Rachel Zanders, who loves burning candles but often found herself overwhelmed by their strong and often sweet scents. She sought to create a candle that would burn without overpowering or offending guests — “just enough scent to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.”
She also aimed to create non-toxic candles that are safe for humans, pets and the environment.
The end result: hand-poured candles made from all-natural, U.S.-grown soybeans and featuring cotton wicks and a blend of fine fragrances and essential oils.
The 4-, 8- and 16-ounce jar candles, free of parabens, phthalates and other chemicals, will now be produced at the new storefront.
“The whole process started in my kitchen as a hobby,” Zanders said. “Then I ended up making a studio in my basement, which I also outgrew. So, I’m really happy to now have manufacturing space within the same space as my retail.”
The shop will carry Easton Candle Co.’s full line of products, including candles, wax melts and reed diffusers. Prices vary, with 8-ounce jars (burning for 50 hours) costing $20 each.
About eight scents include staples such as the business’ top seller, cereal milk (vanilla base with notes of cinnamon, sugar and sweet cream), along with seasonal options such as Valentine (luscious bouquet of red roses, orchids and patchouli).
“Sweet mint is really great as we transition into the warmer season,” Zanders said of the seasonal selection, blending notes of garden mint and spearmint with bright undertones of lime and pineapple.
Zanders, of Easton, is also partnering with other small businesses to carry items such as greeting cards, soaps and handmade gifts.
Easton Candle Co., whose products can be purchased at other area stores such as All Aspects at the Barn in Upper Mount Bethel Township, will continue to operate its online store at eastoncandleco.com. Tentative hours for the brick-and-mortar shop are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.
A few blocks away from Easton Candle Co., man’s best friend will soon take center stage at another downtown Easton addition.
Trifecta Kennels, offering dog boarding and other services, is expected to open within the next few weeks at 403 Northampton St., next to New York Tailors.
According to a worker at Trifecta’s original location in Monroe County, the Easton facility will offer dog boarding, grooming, daycare and training programs such as agility, obedience and puppy training.
Trifecta, which also offers an array of dog supplies and equipment, was established in 1979 at 526 Weir Mountain Road in Gilbert. Owner Eugene Babenko took over the business last year. Info: 610-681-4521; trifectakennels.com.
From dogs to deals, Dollar Tree, a chain of discount variety stores that has served North America for more than 30 years, on Jan. 27 held a grand opening of its newest Lehigh Valley location at 4443 Southmont Way at the Southmont Plaza in Bethlehem Township. The space was previously occupied by home goods retailer Pier 1 Imports.
Customers can shop a wide variety of merchandise, priced around $1, including housewares, dinnerware, cleaning supplies, snacks, health and beauty products, toys, gift wrap, party supplies, stationery and craft supplies.
The chain, which has about 8,000 stores nationwide, had maintained the “everything-for-one-dollar” philosophy for 35 years, but last year announced that it would be permanently raising prices by 25% on a majority of its products “in order to continue offering extreme value to customers.” Info: 610-333-1162.
People looking to prioritize their health in 2022 have a new facility to assist them in Lower Saucon Township.
Unrivaled Nutrition + Fitness, offering nutritional counseling, personal training, small-group fitness classes and more, held a grand opening Tuesday at 1854 Leithsville Road (former Pet Valu spot) in the Creekside Marketplace.
Owner John Rainis, a native of Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, who now resides in Allen Township, has been a prominent member of the Lehigh Valley fitness community for more than a decade.
With bachelor’s degrees in athletic training and exercise science as well as master’s degrees in post-secondary education and applied clinical nutrition, Rainis has trained clients at fitness facilities such as Hellertown’s Main Street Gym while operating his nutrition practice out of O’Brien Chiropractic Clinic in Hanover Township, Northampton County, since July 2020.
Previously, he operated a nutritional and sports supplement store on Race Street in Catasauqua (2018-2019) and worked as an instructor and later a medical program director at McCann School of Business & Technology in Hanover Township, Lehigh County (2013-2017).
In order to consolidate his training and nutrition services under one roof, he decided to open his new facility in Lower Saucon.
“It’s the only way that I could legitimately scale my business,” Rainis said of his facility, which features five other personal trainers.
Rainis, who learned to manage chronic ulcerative colitis solely through diet and exercise in 2019, enjoys assisting individuals with various health conditions, including cancer and multiple sclerosis.
“I love training bodybuilders, but that’s not why I got into this,” Rainis explained. “I wanted to work with people like me, people who needed lifestyle changes.”
Unrivaled, which features new rubber and turf flooring, functional equipment like kettlebells and resistance bands, and around 50 pieces of new cardio and weight training apparatus, will “not be a typical gym” where a majority of members work out on their own, Rainis said.
Instead, the focus is on nutritional counseling, 60-minute personal training sessions, 75-minute small group classes and coaching (contest prep, sports performance and general wellness).
The business also offers 50 “legacy memberships,” featuring 24-7 access to the gym, for $800 per year. For more details, call 610-214-2388.
From fitness to food, the family behind Allentown’s Tavern on Liberty have breathed new life into a longstanding watering hole in Berks County.
Husband and wife Greg and Sherry Russoli and Sherry’s son, Tony Reber, on Jan. 13 opened the Liberty at Dryville restaurant and bar at the former Dryville Hotel at 110 Lyons Road in Rockland Township.
The group spent two years renovating the three-story building, which was constructed in the mid-1800s. Original floor joists and support beams were replaced; stone walls were exposed and repointed; and a new 14-seat bar was installed.
The pub, about four miles southwest of Topton, is the family’s fourth area dining venture.
The Russolis have operated Tavern on Liberty near Muhlenberg College in Allentown since 2005, and they joined forces with Reber to debut two additional taverns in Berks County — Liberty Taproom, which opened in 2011 in Exeter Township; and Liberty Ale House, which opened in 2016 in Reading.
At the Dryville spot, menu highlights include starters such as bacon Brussels sprouts and galumpkis egg rolls (stuffed with seasoned beef, cabbage and rice); hand-held items such as a brisket melt, lobster grilled cheese and Beast burger (ground elk, bison, wagyu and wild boar blended 8-ounce patty with duck egg aioli, bacon and crispy shallots); and large plates such as sauerbraten, pan-seared salmon and chicken and dumplings.
Liberty at Dryville, with seating for 68 guests, also features a full bar with 20 draft beers. Info: 610-899-2863.
A couple of new foodie finds have opened in Whitehall Township:
First, Almost Vegan Pescatarian Cafe, serving pescatarian, vegan and plant-based dishes along with organic smoothies, held a grand opening Saturday on the Lehigh Valley Mall’s upper level, according to a post on the business’ Facebook page.
Husband and wife co-owners Anthony and Nadia Alexander originally opened their eatery in July 2020 at the former Yocco’s hot dog shop at 627 W. Liberty St. in Allentown. The couple decided to move operations to the mall for more space and foot traffic, Nadia said.
“Almost Vegan Pescatarian Cafe is the bridge for those wanting to go vegan or those pescatarians who need healthier seafood choices while enjoying dairy free and soy dishes with alkaline options,” the restaurant’s mission statement reads.
Menu highlights include breakfast items such as avocado spelt toast and wild blueberry pancakes; lunch options such as vegan pizza, Maryland-style crab cakes and a teriyaki grilled shrimp kabob salad; and vegan desserts such as vanilla walnut cake and apple caramel cheesecake. Info: almostvegancafe.com.
Two miles north of the mall, Domino’s Pizza, with more than 18,000 locations in over 90 countries, on Jan. 20 opened its newest area location at 2601 MacArthur Road.
The locally owned Domino’s store, occupying space that previously housed a McDonald’s restaurant within the Whitehall Walmart Supercenter, offers contactless delivery, carryout and carside delivery.
I’ll finish with one business that recently closed and another that’s returning:
First, the 10-year-old Under Armour Bethlehem Factory House, which sold Under Armour’s line of athletic apparel, shoes and accessories, closed Jan. 22 at The Outlets at Wind Creek Bethlehem.
“Following a detailed evaluation of the location and our multi-year direct-to-consumer strategy, we determined that this location no longer aligns with our long-term plans,” Under Armour’s media relations department said in a statement.
Second, Santiago’s Diner & Family Restaurant, a Coopersburg eatery that announced its closure in January 2021, is expected to reopen by early March at its original location at 125 S. Third St. in the borough, according to a post on the business’ Facebook page.
“Your love & enthusiasm towards this diner made us reconsider opening up this location again,” the post reads.
Santiago’s, which originally opened in May 2018, is operated by brothers Octavio and Rolando Zavaleta. The pair also operates the two-year-old Limeport Deli & Cafe in Lower Milford Township.
Retail Watch, appearing every weekend, keeps track of retail and restaurant news in the Lehigh Valley. Contact Ryan Kneller at 610-820-6597 or [email protected].

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