A popular Lehigh Valley vegan restaurant is making its comeback

VegOut, a popular vegan eatery that temporarily shut down in November after owner Mary Lopresti announced she had cancer, is coming back.

“We’re re-opening on May 7,” Lopresti said.

Lopresti opened VegOut at 1 E. Church St. in Bethlehem in December 2019, but was forced to temporarily shut down in November when she announced that she was diagnosed with a rare cancer.

But things have taken a turn for the better. On April 17, Lopresti said that not only was she “beating my cancer,” but that she was also “ready to come back to VegOut and start my new life.”

When asked how she was feeling, Lopresti said she’s excitedly working toward her May 7 opening. “I’m improving and physically getting better, mentally getting better. It’s a work in progress, but I’m on the right track and going in the right direction.”

Foodies — both vegan and not — flocked to VegOut for Lopresti’s vegan recreations of traditional comfort food, and Lopresti said she’ll be keeping fan favorites, though she wants to “ease into it [reopening]” and reconsider the menu.

“I’m definitely keeping the mac and cheese, there’s no doubt about that,” Lopresti said. “And we’ll keep the nachos, Caesar salad, breakfast sandwich, and tofu reuben.”

That ethos that made VegOut stand out — veganized comfort food — won’t be going away. For Lopresti, who has been vegan for the past 14 years, creating vegan food that both vegans and non-vegans can enjoy is important. “I want to show that vegan food is not just lettuce and French fries and tofu, even though those taste really good,” she said. “I want to showcase vegan food and show that when you cook it well, it can taste great.”

Lopresti said she feels lucky and grateful that she had such a strong support system to be able to come back to VegOut. “All the love and support and messages I’ve been getting have really helped me through some pretty serious and not so easy times.”

VegOut will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, when the restaurant will only serve grab-and-go options.