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<p>WILKES-BARRE TWP. &#8212; The former Lucky&#8217;s Sporthouse is a mere shell of itself &#8212; literally.</p><p>Work is progressing at the 110 Schechter Drive site that will transform the building into a full-service Chick-fil-A restaurant that is expected to open by the end of September of early October, according to Thomas Zedolik, township zoning and code enforcement officer.</p><p>On Monday, Zedolik said the building has been gutted, with basically only the exterior walls remaining at this point. Zedolik said the new Chick-fil-A will feature drive-through service.</p><p>Zedolik said the township&#8217;s planning commission had several items on its agenda Monday night, including a resubmitted plan from Urban Edge Properties of New Jersey for the Wilkes-Barre Township Commons, a proposed new hotel and a proposed new Turkey Hill.</p><p>He disscussed several projects that are in the works:</p><p>&#8226; Urban Edge has decided to construct a separate building for Panera Bread to be located at the left of the property. Another building will be built to house several storefronts, Zedolik said.</p><p>Panera and several other retail stores were severely damaged in the June 2018 tornado and the buildings were condemned and recently demolished. Panera planned to occupy a free-standing building to be built on the site by Urban Edge on the right side of the site, but Zedolik said Panera now wants to locate on the left side of the property, near where the former store was, and add drive-through service.</p><p>Members of the planning board couldn&#8217;t yet vote on subdivision of the property because 30 days are required based on the Municipal County Code under state law.</p><p><strong>&#8226; </strong>Zedolik said a new Residence Inn also will be built near the Mohegan Sun Arena on Highland Park Boulevard &#8212; a four-story, 110-room hotel that will face Interstate 81. Zedolik said the property is owned by Singh Realty. He said two other adjacent parcels are being sold separately by Singh Realty.</p><p>While the township zoning allows a three-story height variance, Singh Realty is applying for a four-story height variance during Tuesday&#8217;s township zoning board meeting, Zedolik said.</p><p>&#8226; Zedolik said several existing buildings on Route 309 and Blackman Street, which once housed a repair garage, a bar and other businesses &#8212; along with three private homes &#8212; were purchased by Turkey Hill&#8217;s new parent company, U.K.-based E.G. Group. He said everything will be demolished and a new Turkey Hill will be built, with a car wash.</p><p>In April, Cindy Rantanen, vice president of brands and public relations for E.G. America, said the company has the property under contract. She said five properties were purchased from four different owners and the site measures three acres.</p><p>Rantanen said the plan is to begin construction in spring 2020 and the new Turkey Hill will include a full convenience store, a fast food restaurant with a brand partner still to be named, a car wash and fuel stations.</p><p>&#8226; Zedolik also said plans are to be submitted to build several self-storage units on Blackman Street. The project is currently pending approval to knock down old warehouse pavillions and pole barns on the property to make way for the storage units. Planning members had a few questions on the security of the property.</p><p>&#8226; Zedolik also said he issued a permit to TFP Limited for a new building on Mundy Street that will house a Mission Barbecue restaurant. He said site preparation work has begun.</p><p>&#8226; A medical marijuana dispensary is planned to be built on a vacant parcel near Buffalo Wild Wings on Mundy Street. Zedolik said Wilkes-Barre Township Council recently changed an ordinance regarding minimum distance to allow for the construction of the dispensary building. The site is located near Cedar Village, a residential development nearby.</p><p>Zedolik said the developer will soon submit a site plan and a building architectural drawing of the project.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Conversion of the former Lucky&#8217;s Sporthouse into a new Chick-fil-A has gotten underway in Wilkes-Barre Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL0511419chikfila1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Conversion of the former Lucky&#8217;s Sporthouse into a new Chick-fil-A has gotten underway in Wilkes-Barre Township. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle and Dan Stokes</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com </p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. </p></shirttailMeta></div>

Former Lucky’s Sporthouse gutted for new Chick-fil-A