CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — The long-awaited opening of Clarion Travel Plaza in Monroe Township has been postponed. Originally scheduled for July 10, the plaza will open in phases, according to a representative from GJAMS Clarion Holdings LLC.
A representative said Dunkin’ Donuts will open first, followed by food court restaurants including Sbarro, Fatburger, Jimmy John’s and Tikka Shack. The convenience store and gas station are scheduled to be fully operational in August.
Construction is well underway at the Clarion Travel Plaza, located in Trinity Point on State Route 68, just off Interstate 80 at Exit 62. Signage for the Travel Plaza and various restaurants was installed last month, providing a visible indication of progress toward completion.
The gas station’s underground construction is complete, and workers are now focused on installing the pumps, dispensers and canopy. Workers on the site are currently painting, installing information technology systems, finishing the asphalt pavement and workers in Dunkin’ Donuts uniforms have been spotted preparing the store’s kitchen for the upcoming opening.
The Plaza is actively recruiting staff, posting job ads for store associates on Indeed.com, offering wages of $15 to $17 an hour. Clarion Travel Plaza plans to hire about 40 people, half of whom will be full-time positions.
Initially, the plaza will be open from 4 a.m. to midnight, with plans to move to 24-hour operation in the future, project manager Ann Sandor said in December.
According to company representatives, the project has been more than three years in the making, delayed primarily by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s denial of a permit for a left-turn entrance from State Route 68. Construction is set to begin the week of Dec. 26, 2022.
In addition to the Clarion Travel Plaza, a second development is in the works near Exit 62 on Interstate 80. The new plaza, to be built on the site of the former Ramada Inn, is expected to feature a Sheetz and two chain restaurants. The project is still in the early stages of development.
