Sports apparel chain launches 3rd Lehigh Valley site

An apparel chain catering to fans of professional sports teams has opened its third regional site at Lehigh Valley Mall.

Rally House on Friday opened at the bustling mall, along Grape Street and MacArthur Road in Whitehall. an employee who answered the phone Monday morning confirmed. The store sits on the main level, next to Macy’s, in space that once occupied Jennifer’s Unique Boutique. The boutique temporarily moved to the Lifestyle Center before moving permanently to a space on the upper level.

Nationally, the chain reportedly has about 200 locations across 20 states. Regionally, the chain in May announced plans to open a 5,903-square-foot store — between Barnes & Noble and J. Crew Factory — at Promenade Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon. That store is expected to follow and open on July 26, according to the chain’s website. The region’s other location is at the Hamilton Crossings shopping center in Lower Macungie.

Rally House is known for its apparel, gifts, home decor and other types of merchandise for local NCAA, NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and MLS teams. Think displays of clothing, jerseys and accessories; slippers; jewelry; blankets, glassware, keychains and signs.

Additionally, the mall location plans to sell Lehigh University, Penn State, Villanova and other college sports merchandise. Other area sports teams, including Lehigh Valley IronPigs and Philadelphia Union, have also been represented at regional stores. Some popular brands being offered at the regional store include New Era, Nike, Antigua, Mitchell & Ness and Starter, a news release states.

Rally House’s roots began about three decades ago when founders Tim and Mabel “Peg” Liebert started “Mabel’s Kitchen,” a catalog featuring Kansas-related apparel, gifts and merchandise. Mabel’s Kitchen later evolved into another business, “Kansas Sampler,” which featured five Kansas City area stores selling Kansas professional sports gear.

After several years of success, the Lieberts sought expansion of the business, which began the “Rally House” name in 2008.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is set to soon open at the mall’s outdoor Lifestyle Center.

It’ll move into space formerly occupied Bravo! Cucina Italiana. Bravo! permanently closed in October 2023 after attempting a bumpy comeback about two years prior. In addition to beer brewed on site, Iron Hill patrons are also expected to be treated to a revamped food menu at the new mall location.

Miniso also is set to open sometime this summer at the mall’s main level in space that previously occupied Hi Level Fashion. The chain specializes in household and consumer goods, including cosmetics, stationery, toys and kitchenware. It was founded by Jack Ye, who decided to launch the business venture after Asian-inspired specialty stores, often stocking a variety of items at affordable prices.

Golf Galaxy, an interactive golf store chain, plans to follow with an opening in an exterior portion of the mall, near Michael’s, in coming months, according to the mall’s directory.

Other new additions to the mall include Stone Haven, a retailer of natural stone bracelets, anklets and other jewelry pieces. The retailer in April moved into space that formerly occupied Better Life With Bry. That boutique vacated in mid-January on the main level of the mall, near the fast-casual food offerings.

Better Life With Bry owner Bryanna Tomkins of Allentown had then told lehighvalleylive.com she would be temporarily transitioning away from the brick-and-mortar retail scene and more toward private events and partnerships with other local businesses.

Dave & Buster’s, which initially opened in October 2020 at the mall, recently underwent some upgrades. The dining and entertainment hub on Jan. 12, 2024 unveiled those changes to the public. The lineup includes new interactive social bays; more immersive television screen watching; a revamped chef-crafted menu, kiosks for streamlined booking and ordering; and a newly, well-lit gathering space.

Aside from Better Life With Bry, other closures since the start of the year include Pepper Palace, Little TrenzSetters Boutique, Slime Time and Otaku House.

Slime Time has since relocated to the Promenade Saucon Valley. A portion of the space that previously occupied Little TrenzSetters became part of Victoria’s Secret and Pink’s newly expanded space. Jennifer’s Unique Boutique took over the former Otaku House space on Feb. 1. The boutique was stationed temporarily at the former Williams-Sonoma space at the Lifestyle Center and then, the former Pink location before moving to the upper level.

Cheesecake Factory in mid-December 2023 moved into 8,900 square feet of renovated space in what previously was a portion of Barnes & Noble, next to the Lifestyle Center. The mega-bookseller in July 2023 closed temporarily at the mall and has since moved to temporary space that formerly occupied Track 23 on the lower level. Track 23 closed for good at the end of June 2023.

Barnes & Noble has since returned to its existing space following a lengthy renovation project.

A handful of empty storefronts currently remain, including in the former Slime Time space, according to the mall’s directory map.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.