Greeting someone with a warm smile and treating him or her as the most important person in the room is something Terry Bender knows how to do well.

Bender grew in Breinigsville and, after graduating from Parkland High School, he worked at Melville Corp. where he was trained in sales.

He was transferred to New York but soon decided he did not like the city life so he moved back to Pennsylvania and, like an explorer on a mission, ventured out on his own.

Bender opened a “Shoes for U” store in Trexlertown Mall but his love of sports led him to sell that store and open “Sneaks-N-Cleats.”

He had a minor setback when notified he had to move out of the mall as his store space was needed for Kohls.

Not discouraged, Bender bought property at 6636 Hamilton Blvd. and developed a strip mall.

The new location with added responsibility got his creative juices flowing.

When he opened Sneaks-N-Cleats he also brought in Ticketmaster, a hairdresser and a few other stores.

Bender’s love of sports led him to make friends with Randall Cunningham of the Philadelphia Eagles and he soon became Cunningham’s agent and his best friend off the field.

Eventually they became partners and opened Scrambler, Inc. Co.

When Cunningham got married, Bender was in his wedding.

Bender got to know many Eagles players and word soon got out about what he had done for Cunningham.

His services as a sports marketing agent promoting and managing events for players was in demand so he began representing Herschel Walker, Jeff Garcia, Bill Bergey, DeSean Jackson, Brian Westbrook and David Akers, to name just a very few.

Through a friend, Bender met his wife Hope at his Christmas party.

They married and have raised three children, Mike, R.J. and Jessica. They all love sports and support their dad in all he does as does Bender’s mom, Janet.

Hope co-owns Allied Medical Staffing Co. and is independently successful on her own.

Also a hockey fan, Bender was co-owner of the Mohawk Valley Prowlers, a United Hockey League team, for two years and became friends with Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, who was his head coach.

This was how Bender learned the food business as he was in charge of the concession stands during all events.

Bender contributes his success to surrounding himself with great and positive people.

He has been to 13 Super Bowls. He has taken his whole family to Super Bowl games. He has taken players to parties and was with the Quarterback Club and attended their many meetings. He has been to five NFL Quarterback Challenge events and pro bowls as well.

By the time Cunningham retired, Bender had been in promoting for over 25 years.

He was ready to move on to something else when another opportunity presented itself.

The Buckeye Tavern, in Macungie, was for sale. Bender bought and renovated the tavern, making it a success during a recession.

“I made it a landmark again, back to where it needed to be,” Bender said.

Following that success, his real estate agents wanted Bender to look at the Iron Horse, in Alburtis. At first, he did not want any part of it. Then, he talked to people and it made sense to him. He had a vision of what it could be and moved forward from there.

“When I do something I want to do it right. When I came here and opened the tavern, the borough had their arms open. They worked with me and listened to me.

“They wanted to make downtown great again. I liked that vision. They liked that vision,” Bender said.

“My wife had everything to do with the 12 rooms in the lodge,” Bender added.

When he bought the hotel, he paid cash so he knew he had to make money. Even though the building was condemned, he wanted to save it.

Bender began by surrounding himself with good people he knew like David Kutzor. Forty years ago, the two attended Boy Scouts together. But they had lost touch for the past 25 years.

“I am not an engineer or architect or accountant or lawyer,” Bender said. He wanted to do certain things and do them right.

Bender asked Kutzor his advice on hiring, wanting someone who knew the codes.

When he hired Keystone Consulting, Bender requested, and was granted permission by borough council, to have Kutzor work with him. Council gave their approval and Bender said Kutzor has done an unbelievable job. Keystone employs and pays Kutzor.

Bender knew the tavern would be a success when he bought it and knew a banquet hall was needed in the community.

“If I did not think it would work, I would not have gone into it,” Bender said.

Alburtis Tavern was open only a few months when tragedy hit hard. Fire at the Buckeye destroyed everything there. It was a great loss and emotional blow to Bender. Fortunately no one got hurt but grief demanded its due. Bender soon found out he was not alone.

The people in Lower Macungie and elsewhere reached out to him. They had such empathy for his loss they donated money and checks. Friends opened a Go Fund Me account for the Buckeye. He received as much as $500 to $5,000 and more at one time. He was touched and appreciative but not only did he give all the checks back, he sent a gift card and a letter to each person to thank them for their support and he invited them to Alburtis.

Although he really missed the Buckeye, passing time brought healing and tomorrow is another day. Bender has had another vision and he is going to make it happen. On May 19, 2016, he got a Lower Macungie Township Zoning/Building permit and is working through many things to get it up and running.

Bender donates to all local activities throughout the year including the firefighters who hold a special place in his heart.

Bender listens to his customers which is one of the reasons he opened a pizza shop.

Most of his properties run along Main Street including Alburtis Tavern, Lockridge Banquet Hall and Tavern Pizza. Upstairs in that building are the newly renovated and fully furnished Lockridge Apartment suites.

The next building houses a laundromat and additional apartments. In addition to these properties, Bender owns close to 70 rentals and more, managed by Benderpropertymanagement.com. Bender says he really likes Alburtis and cares about the future of Alburtis and whatever he can do, he will. He is proud of Alburtis, his suites and the park and he feels like he belongs there. He loves to walk down the street and wave at people honking.

He is concerned about unjustified comments he has heard and feels they are said because those people do not know him and have never met him. Bender wants them to know he is in Alburtis at the banquet hall or hotel every day if they want to come by and meet him. He would be happy to speak with them.

Bender has also done business with Donald Trump when he was with Randall Cunningham and has two photos of himself with Trump displayed in his office. He also has a Christmas card he received last year from Trump in his office.

He still speaks to Bergey by phone about once a month and to Akers, who he still promotes, almost daily.

In fact, they are such good friends Akers, an ordained minister, officiated at his daughter Jessica’s marriage to Michael Leckrone in July 2015. Once in a while, Schultz stops to visit him at the tavern.

Bender has owned and operated Alburtis Tavern and Hotel since 2013.

He labeled Alburtis Tavern’s own house vodka in March of 2015 and this year the banquet hall was open for dining and entertaining.

Currently Bender employs about 50 people.

“Come and see what everybody is talking about,” Bender said.