STRATTANVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — University Korner (UK) is a growing family-owned gas station and convenience store chain in Western Pennsylvania, but its latest development goes beyond the corner and takes up an entire block.

“It’s a big step to open a new truck stop,” UK CEO Yasir Bhatti admitted to exploreClarion.com. “You know what? I didn’t know it was anything big when I made the move, so we went with it. It was in our area. It made sense, but I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I did it.”

First, on April 29, 2022, the property, part of the 63.9-acre former 76 Truckstop, was purchased from UK Strattanville Holding LLC for $1.2 million.

“We’ve had great help from local and regional contractors and banks, and they’ve been very, very, very kind. That’s helped us move this project forward and hopefully get it completed in the first quarter of 2025.”

Some local businesses are helping to build the rest area, thereby increasing the economic impact of the project.

After opening, the rest area is expected to provide 40 jobs.

“Everyone working on this project is local, because the clearing area includes the Oil City and Seneca areas. CCS and architect Amos Rudolph are running the show here. All the contractors you see here are local. They get the furniture from locals. The gas comes from a local gas company in Butler. The excavation contractor is based in Clarion. Butler is doing the excavation for the tanks. I would say almost, except for a couple of contractors who are local.”

Work has begun in earnest on a British Rest Area/Travel Center on the former site of the Union 76 Auto/Truck Plaza at 1-80 and Rt. 322, 21251 Route 322, Strattanville. The famous rest area offered fuel and repair services as well as a restaurant operation since the 1970s, and the previous owner filed for bankruptcy in 2007.

“This is more of a traditional transportation hub, and we will have 100 parking spaces available,” Bhatti said. “These days, transportation hubs are getting smaller and smaller.”

Britain has plenty of space on the site, and Bhatti estimates there are 14 acres of developable land, not including the forest area. The two-story building offers 15,000 square feet for retail space, restaurants and other opportunities.

“We have a Dunkin’ drive-thru, Jimmy John’s, an Indian restaurant here and a traditional Indian street food restaurant. It’s not a dine-in restaurant, but everything is made to order. Everything is made right here and people can come and take what they want, like a buffet.”

Bhatti believes there is a need for a rest area/travel center at this location.

“There are a lot of trucks traveling on this stretch of Interstate 80, and we want to provide them with unique opportunities at the Travel Plaza. It’s very convenient to get in and out of this location. So you get off and you’re right in.”

Some of the attractions offered are available to truckers and the public.

“It will be a kind of food court facility; this part will be more of a grocery store and a truck shop for the truckers.”

Showers and a fitness room are available for truck drivers, and on the second floor there will be a hair salon and a salt room for relaxation and breathing using halotherapy.

There is sufficient fuel available for various vehicle types.

“We’re going to have a big diesel canopy with six to seven fueling stations. There’s also going to be a separate canopy for RVs and boats and a separate canopy for cars. There’s going to be three canopies: one for the big semis, one for the trucks, boats and RVs and another for your regular vehicles and small pickups.”

A liquor license transfer is currently being processed. Beer will be sold from a cooler, like in a beer cave or convenience store. Restaurants will not serve beer with their orders.

The University Korner brand was founded about 15 years ago. The company now has nine stores, including in Rimersburg, Sligo, Clarion, Marienville and Kane, as well as two locations in Knox and two in Butler. With the new truck stop, the total will be ten.

“This brand is for the people of Clarion because this is where it started,” Bhatti said. “It started at the University Korner next to the university in Clarion, and we’ve converted all of our stores to the University Korner brand.”

Given the size of the project and the amount of work that still needs to be done, Bhatti was asked if he could estimate the cost of this major project, the largest the company has ever undertaken.

“The goal is moving every day,” Bhatti said. “So if I tell you something today, it’s probably not right. But I’ll tell you one thing: Before this is over, I’m going to raid the piggy banks.”

“Your question is very complex, so I don’t know the answer to that. We have a CPN (Credit Privacy Number) and accounting staff sitting in the office, but setting something like this up requires a lot of effort, finance, bank support and then local support from the contractors. It’s all a mixed effort.”

What will happen to University Korner once the rest area is completed?

He has his eye on New Bethlehem.

The company purchased the Broad Street properties that included the McCauley Service Station, Village Pizza and the former Hayes Machine Shop building on Broad Street.

Takes up an entire block on Broad Street…

“This will be a state-of-the-art facility that takes customer behavior into account,” Bhatti explained. “The entire land is earmarked for the project.”