Aloha Jay’s is located at 1120 Main Street, Hellertown, in an addition in front of Rocco’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant. The business opened May 4 and so far has been a big hit with the community, as well as with customers who have traveled to Hellertown from farther away, in some cases specifically to try a malasada for the first time. Aloha Jay’s is open daily, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The most talked about new business in Hellertown in some time hosted a grand opening event with the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce Saturday. Aloha Jay’s Malasadas at 1120 Main Street opened two weeks ago and has served thousands of donut-loving customers in that brief time, with lines of people spilling out the front door a frequent sight.
A malasada is a type of donut that originated in Portugal and became popular in Hawaii, where it is a beloved culinary symbol of the islands.
On Saturday Aloha Jay’s was selling an apple crumb malasada as a featured flavor. Its regular lineup of malasadas includes unusual flavors like coconut cream, ube (purple yam) and snow cap cream as well as sugar and cinnamon coated, custard and s’mores.
Owner Jay Losagio–who also owns the Hellertown Rita’s franchise located next door to Aloha Jay’s–thanked the crowd of supporters and local dignitarities who attended Saturday’s celebration.
He was joined by his wife and young daughter as well as staff members for the ribbon-cutting, which was held during a pause in the luau-style party that featured a DJ spinning Hawaiian-flavored tunes, a hula dancer and a giveaway of Aloha Jay’s punch; a red tropical fruit drink that is an alternative to the hot and iced Kona coffee the shop sells.
Losagio commented that the days since the May 4 opening of his new business have been long but also rewarding, and singled out the store’s manager, Paula Miller, for her dedication to the job.
As a surprise and in recognition of her hard work, he presented Miller with a trip to Hawaii this summer.
Mayor David Heintzelman, who spoke at the ribbon-cutting, said Aloha Jay’s Malasadas has become the latest business to draw newcomers to the borough and thanked Losagio for opening it.
Aloha Jay’s is open daily, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is located in the same building as Rocco’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant.
On Saturday, the shop was featuring a special apple crumb malasada, and it will continue to offer new flavors on a regular basis. Among the flavors in its regular lineup are ube (purple yam), coconut cream, s’mores, custard, sugar-coated and plain. Outdoor seating is available on benches on the covered porch in front of the store, which features Hawaiian decor and a tropical vibe.
For more information and updates, visit the Aloha Jay’s website and follow Aloha Jay’s on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.
Aloha Jay’s Malasadas owner Jay Losagio (center, holding scissors) celebrated the grand opening of his new business with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held with the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce Saturday. Aloha Jay’s is the first business in the area to offer malasadas, which are a type of donut popular in Hawaii. “The malasada is airy, light, aromatic, with a moist center inside,” according to AlohaJays.com. “Unlike your typical donut, a malasada has no hole, is made with more egg and milk, and has a nice light crisp on the outside.” In addition to a lineup of topped and filled malasadas, the business also sells Kona coffee and Aloha Jay’s punch.
