What Should Go in the Vacant Pad at Westgate Mall?

Does anyone remember Dempsey’s American Kitchen?

For years, it stood on its own pad at the southwest corner of the Westgate Mall, where Schoenersville Road meets Catasauqua Road, serving up diner-style meals and homemade baked desserts. The chocolate-peanut butter cake was quite good.

It has been at least five years, and perhaps closer to 10, since this West Bethlehem restaurant closed its doors for good. With its windows boarded up, the mall occasionally allows visitors – antique car associations or new car dealers, for example – to use the parking lot around the pad for displays.

But nothing has come along to take Dempsey’s place, which is surprising when you consider the location.

It sits along one of the city’s busiest streets at a major intersection with entrances and exits to and from Route 22 less than a mile away.

It would seem an ideal location for another business, wouldn’t it?

What kind of establishment would work at this location, an ideal pit stop for travelers, while still being of use to the West Siders who frequent the mall.

What goes here?

Tell us what you think in the comments.