Fashion design and home decor shop, selling authentic Bethlehem Steel and Mack Trucks pieces, finds new home in Northampton County

A business offering handcrafted home decor and fashions with a nod to local history has found a new home in Northampton County.

The steel beam, carrying small batch and one-of-a-kind wares, decorative pieces, apparel and accessories along with authentic historical pieces from Bethlehem Steel, Mack Trucks and more, reopened Dec. 8 in its new space at 4210 Fritch Drive in Bethlehem Township.

The business, which previously operated from November 2013 to January 2020 at 521 Main St. in downtown Bethlehem, was forced to find a new location after the building’s new owners announced redevelopment plans.

“The new owners of this building have big plans for this historic space,” shop owner Fay Fitch told customers on the business’ Facebook page early last year. “Unfortunately, they don’t include us.”

Fitch, a fashion designer with more than 25 years of experience in the industry, opened the steel beam seven years ago as a place to find an already edited selection of designer clothes and accessories for men and women.

At the business’ new storefront, customers can shop handcrafted goods such as jewelry and clay art made by local artisans as well as the steel beam’s own designs made in-house.

Its mission of “honoring and celebrating America’s unique industrial history” continues.

“We incorporate a lot of significant local history — Bethlehem Steel, the silk industry and so on — into very unique pieces,” Fay said. “For example, we’ll take a Mack Trucks bulldog and turn it into a touch light. We don’t carry replications.”

The business, which also sells items online at thesteelbeam.com, carries unique pieces such as authentic wood primitives, greeting cards with local historic images, a Bethlehem Steel Corporation stock certificate, “Bethlehem USA B” I-beam, Lehigh Valley Railroad locomotive oil can, Mack Trucks bulldog hood ornament, vintage silverware flower vases, trench art vases made from Bethlehem Steel artillery casings and vintage railroad track and spikes turned into bookends, coat racks, hooks, bottle openers and wine racks.

The business also offers personal care products such as Himalayan salt soaps and shave bars and custom wedding pieces such as rings and boutonnieres.

“At our new location, we also have more square footage that we’re going to convert into workshop space for hand-mades,” Fay said. “We have plenty of space for parking and may also have some classes outside.”

The steel beam is open noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Mondays are reserved for custom jewelry design, alterations and workshops (by appointment only). Customers may be able to shop on certain Mondays, but they should call in advance before stopping by. Info: 610-837-6194.