Here are some new restaurants coming soon to the Harrisburg region
Central Pa. diners love a restaurant opening.
One thing holds true— there’s always a new spot on the cusp of opening.
Several restaurants have opened this year. including Rubber Soul’s Taproom in Hummelstown, Tempura Grill in Hampden Township and Benaiah’s Wood Fired Kitchen in Lower Paxton Township.
Plenty more are in the pipeline. Here’s a short list of new places to keep an eye on as the year winds down and 2025 kicks off.
A fixture for six years at the Broad Street Market, The Cheesesteak Guy is relocating.
Owners Josh and Keri Longo closed the stand at the market’s stone building and are reopening this week at the former Hoageez at the West Shore Plaza in Lemoyne.
“We really loved the Broad Street Market and we still do. We owe everything to that place for our start,” Josh Longo said.
The Cheesesteak Guy opened in 2018 at the market specializing in grilled-to-order Philly-style sandwiches, made with thinly shaved ribeye. They also serve breakfast sandwiches, burgers and cheeseburger subs.
The restaurant will allow the Longos to expand the menu and offer specials and future collaborations with other restaurants. It will feature televisions and indoor and outdoor seating.
The signs are up and the national cookie chain with a cult-like following is about to bring its sweet treats to Dauphin County.
Crumbl Cookies is opening a 2,000-square-foot shop at the High Pointe Commons in Swatara Township, according to Levin Management Corporation, the complex’s management company. An opening date has not been announced.
It will be the second Crumbl location for franchise owners Sam and Penny Yarbrough, who opened one earlier this year at 6416 Carlisle Pike in Silver Spring Township at Silver Spring Square.
Freshido is branching out with a new location in Lower Paxton Township.
The Asian-focused restaurant chain will open a unit in early November at the Blue Ridge Village at 2017 EG Drive off Linglestown Road near Cafe Fresco Linglestown, Starbucks and Great Clips. The owners are awaiting a delivery of tables and chairs and permit approvals.
The restaurant will serve the chain’s build-your-own sushi bowls with a new, elevated offering — wok cooking. The menu is designed to attract diners to sit down in the restaurant, something co-owner Benson Chan said has faded in popularity since the pandemic fueled takeout.
The 3,800-square-foot Freshido will have a full liquor license and seating for about 85 diners.
A catering duo with a restaurant in York County is bringing a new concept to the FireHouse Restaurant & Lounge building in downtown Harrisburg.
Justin Coleman and Kyle Moore plan to open Men in the Kitchen Restaurant & Lounge at 606 N. Second St. by the end of the year. The landmark building, first home to Hope Station, has been vacant for about two years.
“When we came across this location, we thought it would be a great opportunity to venture into Harrisburg,” Coleman said.
Last year they opened Men in the Kitchen restaurant at 555 Ryan Run Road in Manchester Township, with a Cajun-fusion menu filled with wings, crab cakes, pastas and sandwiches. Business took off and customers asked if they could bring one to Harrisburg.
They plan to operate at least six days a week serving lunch, dinner and weekend brunches.
Max and Maria Randazzo saw the potential at the former Cafe Magnolia in Lower Allen Township.
The couple announced this summer they will open Bacco Trattoria & Wine Bar in the converted two-story house at 4700 Gettysburg Road. It’s expected to open any day.
The concept is similar to their Bacco restaurants in Harrisburg and Hampden Township.
“It’s a simple concept. It works over there so we’re hoping it works here, too,” Max Randazzo said. “It’s close to my Mechanicsburg location but not close enough to affect it business-wise.”
The restaurant will feature Bacco’s private-label wine along with Pennsylvania wine, beer and spirits and a simple Italian menu of Italian entrees, brick oven pizza, specialty cheeses and cured meats.
House wines are made at the Bacco’s Hampden Township restaurant, which operates under a wine license. Randazzo can expand the Bacco brand because the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board permits license holders to open satellite locations.
Denim Coffee Company is brewing up a second Harrisburg cafe.
The Chambersburg-based specialty roaster has signed a lease with Harristown Enterprises to open a 2,500-square-foot shop at 17 S. Second St. It will open in early 2025 on the first floor of the Menaker Apartment complex.
“This is going to be a tremendous location for Denim on Market Square in downtown Harrisburg with access to a growing residential population and customers from the downtown hotels and the growing UPMC Harrisburg campus,” said Brad Jones, Harristown president and CEO, in a press release.
Denim started in 2011 as a coffee roaster and opened shops in Harrisburg, Chambersburg, Mechanicsburg, Dickinson College and Carlisle. It is opening a shop soon in Lancaster city.
Denim’s menus are straightforward with drip brew and pour-over coffee and espresso drinks, including macchiatos, cappuccinos, lattes and mochas.
Wingstop is spreading its wings in the Harrisburg region.
One of the wing restaurants is slated to open at 597 E Main St. at the Park Village Plaza in Derry Township, according to Bennett Williams Commercial.
The real estate company said Winstop franchise operator Talon Restaurants, LLC of Allentown is leasing a 2,100-square-foot space at the complex. An opening date has not been announced.
Another one is coming to 4900 block of Jonestown Road at the Jonestown Road Center in Lower Paxton Township.
Panera Bread is bringing another restaurant to the Harrisburg region.
The fast-casual brand is opening a unit in 2025 at Poplar Square, a center under development in East Pennsboro Township, according to Garrett Rothman of RSR Realtors, a Lemoyne commercial real estate company.
Cinco Guys, LLC in Cumberland County signed a long-term lease with Panera to build and develop the restaurant. The company is developing the center at Erford Road and Poplar Church Road.
Primanti Bros. Restaurant & Bar is opening another restaurant in Dauphin County.
The Pittsburgh-based restaurant chain is coming to the former Panera at 2630 Linglestown Road at Susquehanna Union Green in Susquehanna Township. The anticipated opening is 2025.
“[Primanti Bros.] is a fun community gathering place. It’s a place where people get together and break bread and it’s a popular concept,” said Ralph Vartan, CEO of The Vartan Group, which is developing Susquehanna Union Green.
A cool and fruity treat is coming to Cumberland County.
Oola Bowls opens soon inside a former CVS at 3201 Market St. in Camp Hill.
The chain was founded in Lancaster by Joe Ferderbar and Brock Snider and has grown from a food truck to 10 locations.
The menu plays on the popular acai bowls trend which has become mainstream in recent years. Oola Bowls sources organic acai from Brazil and carries pitaya, also known as dragonfruit.
The first one opened at Lancaster Central Market. Today Oola Bowls can be found at the Fairgrounds Market in Reading, the Shops at Rockvale, and in York. The closest ones operate at Hersheypark and the Fresh Market at Hershey in Derry Township.
You can learn more at https://www.pennlive.com/life/2024/10/here-are-some-new-restaurants-coming-soon-to-the-harrisburg-region.html
Pictured: Men in the Kitchen owners Justin Coleman and Kyle Moore. The duo plan to open a restaurant and lounge in November at the former Firehouse Restaurant in Harrisburg. Provided
