DICKSON CITY -- A shopping area in Lackawanna County will be seeing new development come spring, adding a new variety of places to eat.
When the Holiday Inn Express was built in Dickson City a few years ago, its placement left a lot on Commerce Boulevard just begging for development, but it sat empty for almost two years.
But Dickson City borough officials said expect bulldozers this spring. Two national chain restaurants have plans to build on the site. Chik-fil-A, the fast food chicken restaurant has signed on. Along with Chipotle, a burrtio and Mexican food restaurant.
"We have a lot of long term stays so having new restaurants in the area is so much more beneficial for them. Plus we get new neighbors instead of an empty lot so we're really excited," said Julie Juckes, manager of the Holiday Inn Express.
Juckes said any kind of development is better for her business, but a greater variety of restaurants is best.
Dickson City borough officials said the new restaurants have filed all the necessary paperwork with the borough. They just need building permits to start digging.
Folks who live and shop in Dickson City's busy business district have long wondered what would fill the lot. News that two chain restaurants that are popular nationally will be building in our area came well-received.
"I love Chipotle, we have one at school, and all the kids at school said 'let's go to Chipotle' and I was like, 'what's Chipotle?' it's just so good," said Gina Chieffalo of Eynon.
"Variety is the spice of life, I mean red lobster and olive garden, those places are great, but why not give people another option," said Andrew Granick of Jackson.
Dickson city's shopping and eating options have grown a lot along crowded commerce boulevard, and with the addition of Chipotle and Chik-fil-A it may get more crowded, but business people said that's not always a bad thing.
"Traffic means cars and money, so you got to love that!" said Juckes.