ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A restaurant serving build-your-own baked potatoes, French fries, pierogies and tater tots has ended operations in Lehigh County, but customers may still be able to score the specialty spuds at another location in the future.
The Potato Factory, a fast-casual eatery offering a wide array of freshly prepared, customizable potato options, closed about a month ago at 921 Hamilton St. in downtown Allentown.
Owner Francisco “Macho” Velez attributed his decision to shutter the eatery to low foot traffic in recent months. He also cited inadequate nearby parking.
Velez has a food truck and is seeking to transition The Potato Factory into a mobile operation, he said.
The truck would visit festivals and other public events and also be available to rent for private parties.
If the new mobile venture comes to fruition, more details will be announced on social media, Velez said.
The Potato Factory opened a little less than a year ago, in May 2024, in a renovated space at Hamilton and Fountain streets.
The restaurant offered a wide array of custom options for baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, deep-fried pierogies, boardwalk French fries and tater tots.
Toppings included meats and seafood such as steak, shrimp, brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, turkey, chopped ham, chopped steak, hot dog, mini meatballs, chili, sloppy Joe, bacon and pepperoni; vegetables such as corn, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, banana peppers, green peppers, red peppers, jalapeno peppers and cauliflower; and other items such as mac and cheese, coleslaw, black olives, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, liquid cheese and sour cream.
Pictured is The Potato Factory’s Philly cheesesteak potato customized with additional toppings such as black olives, banana peppers and scallions.
Customers also could choose from various sauces such as alfredo, barbecue, honey barbecue, A1, hot sauce, mild sauce, ranch, chimichurri, balsamic vinaigrette and spaghetti sauce.
Velez was inspired to open The Potato Factory after noticing similar build-your-own potato businesses proliferating in Puerto Rico and California, among other places.
As a fan of potatoes himself, he decided to open his own restaurant “specializing in all things spuds” in Allentown.
“There’s not many places in the Lehigh Valley where you can build your own potato with this many toppings,” Velez told 69 News shortly after the restaurant’s opening.
“So, I really just wanted to open a new concept – a family-friendly place where you can enjoy a great, quick meal at an affordable price.”
Aroma of India is coming soon to the former Potato Factory space on Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown.
The Potato Factory operated in a renovated space that previously housed other dining establishments, including Island in the Sun and Culture Jam Jamaican restaurants.
Another restaurant, Aroma of India, is coming soon to the space, according to exterior signage.
