A recently opened marketplace in Palmerton plans to augment its offerings to continue meeting the needs of its customers.

The Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce held a grand opening and ribbon cutting recently at the Palmerton Public Market.

“I think it was a huge success, all the vendors were highlighted in the ribbon cutting,” said Karen Smith, who along with her husband, Allen, purchased the property at 270 Delaware Ave. “We had great support from the community, the delegates and the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce.”

Smith said that despite the adverse weather conditions of late, they are holding their own.

“We’re continuing to grow week by week,” she said. “The basement will be renovated to make more room for vendors.”

Smith said shoppers have been extremely complimentary of the upstart market.

“I’ve been getting great feedback from my customers,” she said. “My husband talks to people, and they’re constantly looking for more vendors in here.”

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, and now a deli.

Smith said the Palmerton Public Market now has a deli, which eventually will be shifted down by the meat counters, and added some frozen seafood will be brought in as well.

She said KupKake Kandi and S&E Natural Soaps are expanding their booths to be able to bring in more products, while Beautiful Floral is working on bringing in plants.

Smith said some mini classes are also being held at the site, as JW Farms & Homestead just did a seed-starter class to help people learn how to grow a garden, with more classes to come.

She said Shirley Pargas, owner of Beautiful Floral, will conduct a floral vase decoration for Valentine’s Day on Feb. 13 to teach people how to make bouquets that they will get to take with them when they are done.

Smith said Sleepy Cat Urban Winery will have a Soup and Wine pairing Feb. 11-15.

She said River Rock Bean + Brew Mobile Bar and KupKake Kandi work in tandem to offer coffee and breakfast at 7 a.m. Friday mornings.

Payton Marunich, owner of River Rock Bean & Brew Mobile Bar, said things have gone really well to date.

“We’re thrilled to have so many businesses under one roof; it’s nice to have a variety,” Marunich said. “We’ve seen lots of traffic both on weekends and on weekdays, which we are happy about.”

Marunich said they sell coffee and noncoffee products, with their main seller being cold brew.

“We rotate our menu, change our signature (items) biweekly as well as seasonally,” she said. “And we like to collaborate with local businesses.”

Additionally, Smith said the Palmerton Public Market is supporting different Girl Scout troops that are coming in and selling their cookies.

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

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.

Located at the site of the former Shea’s Hardware Inc., the Palmerton Public Market held a soft opening in November.

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.