Although it will be located at least 20 minutes from Hellertown–and further from other parts of the Saucon Valley–many local residents are interested in the upcoming opening of a Whole Foods supermarket in the new Hamilton Crossings shopping center on Krocks Road, just off Rt. 222 in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County.
Although a date hasn’t been announced by the company via its website–which simply states that the store will open in Fall 2016–Lehigh Valley Live reported Monday that the opening date is set for Saturday, Oct. 1.
The Morning Call recently reported that the upscale grocery store known for its selection of organic foods will open a few days earlier, on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Either way, the opening of the Lower Macungie Whole Foods store will mark the Austin-based chain’s entry into the Lehigh Valley market; something that has been anticipated by local retail observers and foodie-fans for years.
The store’s address is 750 N. Krocks Road, Allentown, Pa., and employees are still being hired, according to its website.
According to Google Maps, the quickest route to the new shopping center from the center of Hellertown is via Rt. 412 north, I-78 west and Rt. 222 west (Hamilton Boulevard) to left on N. Krocks Road. Without traffic, the travel time to Hamilton Crossings via that route should be slightly less than 20 minutes. The distance is just under 15 miles.
From the center of Hellertown the fastest route to the new Hamilton Crossings shopping center on Krocks Road in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, is via Rt. 412 north, I-78 west and Rt. 222 west (Hamilton Boulevard), according to Google Maps.
An alternative, slightly shorter (distance-wise) route is via Friedensville Road, Bingen Road, Saucon Valley Road, Center Valley Parkway and Rt. 309 to I-78 west.
The nearest Whole Foods as of now is located about 45 minutes away, on Rt. 309 in North Wales, Montgomery County. Stores are also located in Jenkintown and Plymouth Meeting, near Philadelphia.
The Whole Foods website features a newsletter sign-up option for customers who want to receive updates about new store openings and other information. A Facebook page for the store has been created, but there was nothing posted on it by Whole Foods as of Aug. 22.
One of Wholes Foods’ neighbors at Hamilton Crossings will be another newcomer to the Lehigh Valley–the warehouse club Costco–which is tentatively scheduled to open Friday, Nov. 18, Lehigh Valley Live reported.
Other retail tenants of the complex will include Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target, PetSmart, Rally House (a clothing store), BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse and Nordstrom Rack, which is opening Friday, according to billboard advertising along Rt. 309 in Upper Saucon Township and published reports.