BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Carl’s Corner, a local favorite “bang-for-your-buck” cheesesteak spot with locations in Bethlehem and the Nazareth area, is under new ownership starting this weekend.
Listing agent Terry Hahn, of Boutique One Properties, on Friday said he and the former owners, the Weintraub family, found a buyer “who is committed to continuing Carl’s pride and tradition of serving the community great food at affordable prices.”
New owner Michael Bartz told LehighValleyNews.com on Saturday that he closed on the property this week and looks to take over Sunday.
“That was one of my concerns coming in, was that with the change in ownership, people think the menu is going to change or the prices are going to change or the quality of the food is going to change. And I just really want people to know that that’s not the case. It’s going to keep on keeping on.”Michael Bartz, new owner of Carl's Corner
'One thing led to another'
Bartz said that six months ago he wasn’t even interested in buying a business.
But when news broke that both the Bethlehem and Lower Nazareth Township locations of Carl’s Corner were up for grabs, Bartz said “one thing led to another.”
“I’d been familiar with the restaurant for many years being a Bethlehem resident,” said Bartz, who grew up in New Jersey but has lived in the Lehigh Valley for 34 years.
“And the more I got involved in doing some research, the more it just seemed like a great opportunity.”
'Great management team, great food, great menu'
For those concerned about changes to what they've come to know about the restaurant, Bartz said not to fret. He said Carl's has been a well-oiled operation with a “great management team, great food, great menu.”
“That was one of my concerns coming in, was that with the change in ownership, people think the menu is going to change or the prices are going to change or the quality of the food is going to change,” Bartz said.
“And I just really want people to know that that’s not the case. It’s going to keep on keeping on.”
He said he’s promoted the Nazareth-area location manager to now run both spots as general manager. Two long-term employees in Bethlehem will co-manage that location, and Bartz’s daughter will join the whole operation as office manager.
Potential expanded operations to come
In the coming months, Bartz said he’d love to have both locations of Carl’s Corner up and running seven days a week and would be looking to bring on some new team members to make that happen.
Both stores now are open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Lower Nazareth store is in the Raceway Plaza off Route 191 and the original Bethlehem shop is at West Elizabeth Avenue and North New Street, near Moravian University.
Bartz said he envisioned the possibility of opening a Carl’s food truck within the next three years, and potentially another brick-and-mortar location somewhere in the Lehigh Valley in the next five.
While these are the first restaurants Bartz has called his own, he said he has relevant experience going back a number of years that’s included working in server, bartender and front-of-house management positions.
He said he also plans to continue working in his role as a regional sales manager with a local youth sports photography company, guiding operations at Carl’s with a “hands-off” approach.
Carl’s Corner was originally J’s Steaks and Subs, opening in 1991 under the leadership of Carl and Betsy Souders. The branding switch to include Carl’s namesake came five years later, according to the restaurant website.
Matt and Cindy Weintraub took the wheel in 2018 after the Souderses retired. They put the Bethlehem and Lower Nazareth locations up for sale last summer due to health and family concerns.
The Lower Nazareth location opened in 2021.
