‘COVID shutdowns hit us hard’: Allentown restaurants, entertainment closed permanently | Eat, drink, buy

ALLENTON, Pa. — A business that combines fresh food and beverages with indoor golf and games will end operations in Lehigh County.

Sweet Spot Bar & Grill, a full-service restaurant and bar featuring the Topgolf Swing Suite golf simulator bay, will have its final day of operation on June 30 at 2805 Lehigh St. in Allentown, according to a Monday release Displays the Facebook page.

The Sweet Spot opened in November 2019 in a building that was previously home to other restaurants, including Bob Evans and Brazilian steakhouse Rodizio Grill.

“We cannot tell you how much we appreciate you and your business over the past 3 1/2 years, and we hope we can continue to be here for you,” managing partner Terry Ellis wrote in the announcement . “Unfortunately, the COVID shutdown hit us hard and we never really recovered. We’ve been trying to raise awareness about our business and the amazing fun and food we offer, it’s just run out resources to continue.”

Sweet Spot’s golf simulators allow guests to play on over 90 different golf courses, including the famous Pebble Beach and Old Course at St. Andrews.

Multiple options for individuals and groups, including playing in tournaments, enjoying the game closest to the cue, and practicing your game at the driving range, which displays all your stats and saves them in a cloud account, accessible from anywhere with internet access .

Additionally, guests can use the simulators to play other sports such as baseball, football and hockey, as well as non-sports games such as Fiesta Classic and Zombie Dodgeball.

Topgolf Swing Suites are rented on a fixed hourly rate and not on an individual basis.

Off-peak hours (open until 5pm Tuesday-Friday) are $50 per hour, while peak hours (5pm-close Tuesday-Friday; all day Saturday and Sunday) are $60 per hour.

The Sweet Spot serves appetizers like chicken wings, coconut shrimp, and Sriracha honey pork leg; salads like apple berry, buffalo chicken, and Caesar (with options to add grilled chicken, steak, salmon, shrimp, or crab cakes); and fried fish Entrees include chips, Jack Daniel’s salmon and stuffed portobello.

There are also “favorites” such as Reuben and chicken sandwiches, as well as some golf-themed dishes such as “Fairway Fries” (crispy chips with Monterey Jack cheese, green onions, ranch, applewood-smoked bacon, cheese sauce and cocoa. pulled pork of choice), “The Bogey” (Angus beef burger or grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle spears on a brioche bun), “Birdie Flatbread” (grilled chicken, applewood smoked Smoked Bacon, Monterey Jack, Tomatoes and Buttermilk Ranch Flatbread), “The Caddyshack” (crab cakes, arugula, tomato, onion and Cajun mayonnaise on an English muffin), “The Hole-in- One” (homemade BBQ pulled pork on brioche bread and coleslaw) and “19th Hole” (peanut butter chocolate chip cake with peanut butter mousse, Nutella and whipped cream).

In the hours after the closure was announced, the online post garnered more than a dozen comments, mostly from customers expressing regret at the news of the impending closure and warm wishes to the owners.

“Oh no, I’m sorry to read this,” one person commented. “You work hard and seem like a genuine person. Good luck with your future adventures.”