Business & Tech

Irene Floods Popular Restaurant, Forces Closure

Owner says a completely renovated Blue Grillhouse will reopen in November.

A popular upscale restaurant in Bethlehem Township, has turned out to be another of Hurricane Irene’s casualties – at least temporarily.

Three to four feet of water flooded the parking lot and basement of , 4431 Easton Ave., necessitating an extensive cleanup, which would have taken at least four weeks to complete.

Today, owner George Paxos announced through a news release that he is going to take extra time and do a complete renovation of the restaurant and reopen in November.

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“I had planned on doing a complete renovation for awhile, but the water damage from Hurricane Irene expedited my decision,” said Paxos, who also owns Melt in the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley.

“When the renovation of Blue is complete, it will give Lehigh Valley an elegant, upscale restaurant that rivals any of the top establishments in New York or Philadelphia.”

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The event venue at Blue, , was unaffected by the flood and will remain open during restaurant renovations, Paxos said. However, Candlelight, which hosts weddings and other special events, will also undergo extensive renovations early in 2012, Paxos said.

Restaurant renovation is set to include an expanded outdoor dining section, though that will not be ready until some time next year.


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