Broad Street Restaurant Changing Hands, Names
Petra Mediterranean will close this weekend and reopen Tuesday as True Blue Mediterranean Cafe.
Within the next week, one of Broad Street’s Restaurant Row establishments will change hands and names.
Petra Mediterranean at 81 W. Broad St. will serve its last meal this weekend and will be reborn Tuesday as True Blue Mediterranean Cafe, according to Ziad Hariry, the new restaurant’s owner.
Hariry appeared Wednesday before the Bethlehem Historic and Architectural Review Board to seek permission to change the color of the awning that currently adorns the building to a bright Mediterranean blue. The board voted in favor of allowing the change.
Hariry said he has been working behind the scenes at the restaurant in advance of the change. He has operated a successful restaurant of the same name in Emmaus since 2009, specializing in Mediterranean food and gourmet coffees.
In This article
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Petra Mediterranean
81 W Broad St, Bethlehem, PA -
True Blue Mediterranean Cafe
1301 Chestnut St, Emmaus, PA
Mary Anne Looby
8:23 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
It's impossible to compete against The Apolo Grill. This restaurant has been so many differnt names I can't keep count anymore. It's a tough market.
Daryl Nerl
5:45 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
It is unclear why the owner of Petra has decided to call it a day. But I don't agree with you, Mary Anne. Apollo draws great crowds. But so does Edge across the street and Brew Works up the street and Mama Nina around the corner. The neighborhood is a destination for people who like dining out and multiple restaurants are succeeding. But you do have to bring your A game to make it work.
Ziad
12:41 am on Sunday, July 15, 2012
I currently own a five star rated Restaraunt in Emmaus, my food will compare in quality to Apollo but don't just listen to me, tasting is believing...
Ed Vatza
7:17 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Will you have vegan entrees on your menu?
Mary Anne Looby
9:55 am on Sunday, July 15, 2012
Daryl, I don't agree with you. I have been to Edge a number of times since it opened. It runs hot and cold in its service and food. The Brew Works is a totally different scene. It is a bar, with its space downstairs for music etc. Brew Works food is ok, if all you want is ok. As for Mama Nina, haven't been there. I am not saying there are no other good restaurants in Bethlehem, I am saying that this particular restaurant is so close to the Apolo that is is difficult. The percentage of restaurants that fail within one year is staggering. To Mr. Ziad, I have never heard of your restaurant in Emmaus.Where is it located and what type of food do you serve? Some people refer to Greek food as Meditrranean.
Tim Cox
6:29 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
The Emmaus location is my favorite place to eat. Cannot wait to try the Bethlehem one. PS... Mary, people said that exact same thing when Cali Burrito opened in Allentown. Years later it's still packed every night. True Blue can have the outcome.