Countryside Owner has Long-Term Vision for Downtown Location

Local restaurant owner Bill Kao made a lot of coffee drinkers happy with yesterday’s announcement that he plans to open a new eatery on the Triangle in Emmaus. The business – yet to be named – will take over the storefront at 332 Main St., previously occupied by the popular coffee shop, which closed its doors on April 1, 2011.

Kao, who has been operating , 5130 Chestnut St. for the past two years, is targeting a June 1 opening on the Triangle. He plans to focus his offerings on ice cream initially, using Crowley, the same supplier he uses at Countryside.

“Some of our customer favorites are our peanut butter and chocolate, pumpkin and vanilla or raspberry and vanilla soft serve, depending on the season. We consistently have 18 different hard flavors selections and various sundaes and banana splits,” Kao says.

Kao plans to keep the new store open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the summer months.

The voice of experience

Kao graduated from Penn State University with a degree in hotel and restaurant management and recently received his MBA. Having grown up in the restaurant business as the son of a restaurant owner, launching a restaurant comes as second nature.

“I went on to work for Marriott International right out of school (as a regional general manager) but had always wanted to own a little deli/breakfast place of my own. I saw Countryside was available, and with twins on the way, it was the perfect timing since I was traveling a lot for my hotel job,” Kao recalls.

Kao is committed to a three-year lease for Countryside, through October 2012, and plans to continue the business at its current location while expanding into downtown Emmaus.

“I think it’s important to create a synergy by having two locations. We will be able to share in operating costs, share employees, and most important, be able to serve our loyal customers,” he says.

The most important meal of the day

With Emmaus residents already looking forward to the frozen treats they’ll be able to enjoy on the Triangle this summer, Kao is looking ahead to February 2012, when he plans to offer a full menu, ranging from breakfast to banana splits.

At Countryside, Kao offers a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items. His menu includes 20 kinds of homemade gourmet burgers, and the bagel sandwiches have been very popular.

Once things are up and running in the downtown, in addition to ice cream, he plans to offer a daily selection of 10 different bagels flavors, which will also be available for purchase in bulk.

Hot cooked food will come to Kao’s Triangle location once he installs the “hood” ventilation system required by the borough in all establishments that cook food.

Kao hopes to complete the installation this winter and have his full menu in place soon after. When that happens, he’ll stay open every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

A gathering spot for all ages

Kao wants to provide a “hangout” for different sporting teams, whether from Emmaus High School or the local sports associations. Older Emmaus residents could compare Kao’s vision to the well-known “Deano’s Drive-In” that once existed where Rita’s Italian Ice now stands.

Kao also wants to use the “back room” of the new location as a gathering place for local moms’ clubs and other organizations. The  space could also be used for private parties, he says.