A longtime storefront is once again bustling with activity in downtown Palmerton.

Customers came from near and afar to get a glimpse of the Palmerton Public Market, which held a soft opening on Wednesday.

Complete with eight vendors offering a variety of wares, the market was abuzz as merchants set up shop at 270 Delaware Ave., the site of the former Shea’s Hardware Inc.

Karen and Allen Smith, of Northampton, purchased the property and have owned AK Farms in Northampton for the past 12 years.

The couple has moved their butcher shop to the Palmerton Public Market. They will continue to run AK Farms at their farm in Northampton, and now in Palmerton.

Their business, AK Farms, has been featured prominently throughout the area in recent years, including at the Slatington Farmers Market, which they have since left to pursue their newest endeavor.

Bill and Denise Kittle, of Nazareth, said they are acquaintances of Karen and Allen Smith, and purposely made the trek to check out the market.

“They’re friends of ours,” Denise Kittle said. “They have lots of nice vendors in there.”

“They’re good people,” Bill Kittle said. “Even though we’re far away, I’m sure we’ll be back again.”

The inside is one big open room, with vendors who line the sides of the first floor.

Just before the lunch hour, many of the vendors were full with customers.

Kathleen Leister, of Palmerton, purchased a roast and two pounds of beef from AK Farms LLC.

“I’m super-excited everybody’s here,” Leister said. “It’s just to keep the town having occupants and support one another.”

Down a bit further, Brenda Szukics, of Palmerton, purchased apple dumplings from KupKake Kandi.

“I’m very excited for them to open,” Szukics said. “We needed something like this.”

At the other end of the building, Diana Ross, of Palmerton, bought produce from local farms.

“It’s very nice for them just opening,” Ross said. “It’s a great asset to Palmerton; this is what we need.”

Current vendors inside the Palmerton Public Market are AK Farms LLC, The Shutter House, Beautiful Floral, S & E Natural Soaps LLC, JW Farms & Homestead, River Rock Bean + Brew Mobile Bar, Sleepy Cat Urban Winery, and KupKake Kandi.

“I think everybody’s killing it; everybody seems really happy,” said Jessica Cole, marketing director. “We’ve had very positive reviews, and we’re very excited.”

Cole, the daughter of Karen and Allen Smith, who purchased the property, added that the basement is currently being renovated to make more room for vendors.

“My parents have put in a lot of energy, sweat, and tears,” she said. “They had a little dream of having a small farm and have blossomed into business owners.”

The Palmerton Public Market is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

They are still accepting food vendors who would be interested in joining them at the Palmerton Public Market, and may contact 610-248-0396.

After nearly 70 years in operation, Shea’s Hardware shut its doors on Oct. 14, 2023.

Bernie Shea, former owner/president, said the time had come for he and his wife, Debbie, to retire.

Shea’s father, Donald Shea Jr., bought the business from Bert Shipe in 1954.

When the property went on sale in June, Jim Christman, of the Jim Christman Team — Keller Williams Real Estate, said the asking price for the property was $310,000.