A popular Lehigh Valley chef is bringing a delicious, chill new dining experience to New Jersey this year. Joe Stout of Chef Meals LLC is preparing to open The Shop! in Phillipsburg this spring, reports local media outlet 69 News.
Stout spoke to What Now Philadelphia about his plans for the concept, set to open at 60 South Main Street. “I chose this location because it is in my hometown and I always loved this location” he states adding “I actually looked at it about 4 years ago, but it was too small. I rebranded my whole business so the location now works perfectly.”
Stout explains that a lucrative new year has been the impetus in pursuing this new concept. “2024 has been great so far for me.” he says. “All the hard work I’ve been doing behind the scenes is actually coming together for me.”
Although he sites cannabis enthusiasts as his primary demographic, Stout hopes The Shop! will provide a welcoming and relaxed environment for all visitors. “I want it to be a place for everyone- for people to come and experience the empanada experience. I’m going to have all sorts of street foods. The inside is going to be inspired by cannabis. It’s going to be pretty cool!”
While visitors can certainly look forward to an incomparable dining experience, anchored by Stout’s delicious empanadas, the full The Shop! experience will transcend simply eating. Stout explains “Once a week I’m going to do a movie night- ‘Cheech and Chong’, ‘How High’, ‘Howard and Kumar’. I want it to be a a place where people can feel relaxed and unjudged.”
Stout is hoping to do a soft opening in March. He explains that the shop is still becoming customer ready, stating “We’re in the process of renovations-interior stuff. We’re deep cleaning the whole place, getting inspections set up, pretty much the whole month of February.”
Honoring the cannabis enthusiasts in his customer base, Stout hopes to do a grand opening on April 20. The restauranter looks forward to bringing something special and unprecedented to his hometown, stating “I’m really happy to be in my home community-it’s a great community. I do as much as I can in the community and it feels great to be back in town.”
