Public hearing held on transfer of liquor license for proposed Felix Restaurant at 395 S. Cedar Crest Blvd.

Allentown held a public hearing on the proposed transfer of Pennsylvania liquor license R-21060 to Felix Restaurant LLC for a planned restaurant at 395 South Cedar Crest Boulevard.

Attorney Theodore Zeller, representing Felix Restaurant LLC, told the council the license was acquired through Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board auctions of inactive licenses and had been formally associated with South Whitehall Township. Zeller said the move into the city would be minimal in distance — roughly 50 feet — because the parcel borders South Whitehall.

Zeller described the site as the former TGI Fridays at the Cedar Crest strip mall and said the interior will be substantially renovated. The plan presented to the council showed about 150 seats inside in phase one, with a phase two outdoor patio of roughly 80 seats. He said the restaurant will operate as a full-service sit-down venue, offering primarily American cuisine, with limited takeout (he estimated takeout alcohol sales would be under 1–2% of sales).

The applicant projected hours of roughly 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, with somewhat earlier weekend hours to accommodate brunch service. Zeller described a security plan that would include approximately 20–30 cameras inside and outside the premise and said live entertainment would be occasional.

Zeller said demo permits have been pulled and that building permits are expected to be submitted to the city in about 60–90 days. He emphasized that this hearing concerns only the license transfer; separate city permits and Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board approvals remain required.

Zeller identified the owner as Gordon "Donnie" Petridis, who he said has operated restaurants in the region, including The Shelby and others. Zeller stated that, to his knowledge, Petridis’s operations have not received citations for underage or visibly intoxicated service, after-hours sales or similar violations. Petridis told the council the team hopes to open by the end of the year and expects concept planning to wrap up in the next 30–60 days.

Council members asked a procedural question about a prior nearby license (referred to in the hearing as having been associated with TJ Bridal); Zeller said that license had been transferred out of the city and discussed how quota rules affect transfers. Several council members expressed support for the project, noting the location, parking and the potential for job creation; one member explicitly thanked the applicant for bringing more business to Allentown.

The chair opened the floor for public comment; no members of the public spoke. The chair then closed the hearing record and stated the matter will appear on the council agenda later as Resolution R33, which council members will vote on at the upcoming council meeting.

The hearing record was closed and the meeting adjourned.