Developers, retailers, state and local officials gathered Nov. 18 to celebrate the grand opening of Hamilton Crossings, a retail center catering to consumers’ lifestyles by connecting them conveniently with shopping and personal services and building social connections with the community.

Metro Commercial first introduced developers the Goldenberg Group and TCH Development, who formed a joint venture to design and build a shopping center that includes elements of both power and lifestyle centers and that accommodates the needs and desires of today’s consumers by delivering an intentional combination of upscale retail, grocery, restaurants, services, banking and healthcare.

Hamilton Crossings brings a number of firsts to the growing Lehigh Valley, including Costco Wholesale, Whole Foods, Nordstrom Rack, Anthony’s Coal-fired Pizza, Rally House, BJ’s Brewhouse and Smashburger. The 550,000-square-foot center also features 30 new retailers including Target, Dick’s, PetSmart, DSW, Old Navy, Pier 1 Imports, Ulta Beauty, Verizon, AT&T, Hand & Stone, Luxury Nails, Vision Works and a Fine Wines & Good Spirits state store.

“Whatever a consumer needs, they can find it at Hamilton Crossings,” Goldenberg Group Senior Vice President Eric Knopping said. “They can buy their groceries at Whole Foods, pick up the latest fashion trend at Nordstrom Rack, enjoy a glass of wine or beer with lunch or dinner and relax with a massage at Hand and Stone. In one trip, they can also have their teeth cleaned, their vision checked, buy a cell phone and take care of their banking.”

In addition to various retailers, the grand opening event featured remarks from State Senator Pat Browne, R-16th, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Deputy Secretary Scott Dunkelberger, Douglas H. Brown, president of the Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners, a performance by the Macungie Band, as well as the presentation of a large-scale sculpture paying homage to the site’s mining history. Local historian Michael Piersa of the National Museum of Industrial History created a constructional design of a mine tower and sheaf wheel used by miners in the area.

Tim Harrison, principal with TCH Realty and Development, credited a collaborative effort with state and local officials and planners for the successful launch of the highly anticipated shopping center. The center was funded through a public/private partnership with $16.75 million in public funding, financing through grants and low-interest loans and another $123 million in private investment.

“Guided by and in collaboration with the township, its planning staff, planning commissioners and commissioners, and many of our neighbors, we were able to reimagine Hamilton Crossings as more than just a place to buy things,” Harrison said. “The shared vision of Hamilton Crossings is to be a true community center with superb architecture, abundant landscaping and wonderful amenities – in short, a public space that further enhances the livability of this great community.”

The development team made a significant effort to work with the township to ensure the project related to the surrounding community and enhanced connectivity. Those efforts include two miles of walking/bike paths throughout the center; a series of story boards that tell the history of the township; creation of a sculpture representative of the historic mining activing on the site; construction of a rain garden area to help relieve flooding conditions and support the eco-system and landscaped and hardscaped public gathering areas with an elevated stage.