Business of the Week: Internet Café, Deli & Grill

One peek inside the , and anyone can tell it is dedicated to its hometown.

The walls are adorned with guitars -- three of them -- and photographs of old Nazareth. Also included are pictures of the original Cherry Hill Hotel, which was owned by Stephen Nikles’ grandfather 30 years ago.

Nikles, the owner of the Internet Café & Deli, grew up in Nazareth and opened his first business, Copiers, Inc., in Bath in 2003. Three years later he opened a second location in Nazareth at the corner of Center and Broad streets.

When the storefront next door became available, he talked to his landlord.

“I told the landlord, ‘I’m going to take it. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it yet, but I’ll take it,’” Nikles said of the 6 S. Broad St. location. “Once I got in there, I thought, 'This could be a great place for a small eatery.'”

Nikles learned the ropes of the restaurant business while working as a bartender for a friend, who owns Grill 3501 in Allentown. When the time came to consider opening his own eatery, he decided he wanted a small place, like a sandwich shop.

Thus, in 2008, the Internet Café & Deli was born.

Nikles worked with folks from Boar’s Head deli meats to develop sandwiches for his first menu. As time went on, he decided to add a grill and a charbroiler, and the business became the Internet Café, Deli & Grill.

He worked out the grill menu himself, including the gourmet burgers and ribeye. 

“Now that the grill is open, breakfast and burgers are our most popular items,” Nikles said, adding that the Sweet Baby Ray Burger is his personal favorite.

And the best part? Not a single item on the menu tops $10.

The name of the business also stems from the free wi-fi service available to customers.  Laptops are available so patrons can peruse the net while they eat.

Once or twice a month, the business hosts Family Fun Night, an open-mic event where local musicians gather to showcase their talent.

“People ask me, ‘When’s the next one so we can get a babysitter?’ I tell them to bring the kids. It’s a family night,” Nikles said.

Children are not only welcome, but, at times, perform at the function. On any given night, several performers grace the stage. On one memorable night, there were 25 different musicians on the microphone, according to Nikles.

The Family Fun Nights have garnered a lot of attention, both positive and negative. Most recently, Nazareth Borough Council approved Family Fun Night as a  after an amended  was approved.

“I’ve gone to quite a few of these sessions with my wife and my son and it’s a great evening of fun," Paul Sarkis, a borough resident and patron, said at a recent council meeting.

Sue Rothrock has been a faithful employee of Nikles for more than four years. She started working at the Bath location of Copiers, Inc., then moved to the Nazareth location. Now she can be found behind the counter at the Internet Café, Deli & Grill.

“It all comes down to the customer service,” Rothrock said. “People tell me they like the food, but they keep coming back because of the service.”

She talked about the local following the café has attracted since opening, pointing to what she calls the 'thursday crowd' -- a happy-looking table of five enjoying breakfast.

“Of course we’ve got our regulars,” she said. “Then we get the people that come in for the first time, they’ve never tried it, and they usually come back.”

If there’s one thing that Nikles cares about, it’s his hometown, and seeing it develop and thrive. He eagerly discusses local politics, and is well-versed in the goings-on around Nazareth.

“I like this town. I grew up here. I like the people. I’ve known many of them all my life,” Nikles said. “I’m very thankful and grateful for everyone who supports me ... family, friends, and those I’ve gotten to know because of this.”

The Internet Café, Deli & Grill is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; and is closed on Sunday.