STRATTANVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — University Korner (UK) is a growing family-owned chain of gas stations and convenience stores in Western Pennsylvania. Still, its latest development leaves the corner and takes over an entire block.

“It is a big step to start a new truck stop,” UK CEO Yasir Bhatti admitted to exploreClarion.com. “You know what? I did not know it was big when I took the step, so we went along. It was in our area. It made sense, but I did not know what I was getting into when I got into it.”

First was the purchase of the property, a portion of the 63.9-acre former 76 Truckstop, on April 29, 2022, with UK Strattanville Holding LLC for $1.2 million.

“We have had great local help with local and area contractors and banks, and they’ve been very, very, very kind. That has helped us to get this project moving forward and, hopefully, completion in the first quarter of 2025.”

Some local companies are helping to build the truck stop, adding to the project’s economic impact.

Once open, the truck stop is expected to employ 40 people.

“Everyone working on this project is local because the clearing area base includes the Oil City and Seneca areas. CCS and architect Amos Rudolph are heading the show over here. All the contractors you see over here are local. They’re getting furniture from locals. The gasoline is local from a Butler gas contractor. The excavating contractor is local to Clarion. Butler does the excavating for the tanks. I would say almost except a couple of contractors are local.”

Work has begun earnestly on a UK truck stop/travel center on the former Union 76 Auto/Truck Plaza site at 1-80 and Rt. 322 at 21251 Route 322, Strattanville. The storied truck stop provided fueling and repair services and restaurant operations dating back to the 1970s, and the previous owner declared bankruptcy in 2007.

“This is more of a traditional travel plaza, and we will have 100 parking spots available,” Bhatti said. “These days, travel plazas are getting smaller.”

The UK has plenty of space to work with on the site, and Bhatti estimated there are 14 acres of developable land, not including the forested area. The two-floor building has 15,000 square feet available for retail space, restaurants, and other options.

“We have a Dunkin’ drive-through, Jimmy John’s, an Indian restaurant over here, and a traditional Indian restaurant with street food. It’s not a restaurant where you dine, but everything is made-to-order. Everything will be made right here, and people can come and pick up whatever they like, like a buffet style.”

Bhatti thinks there is a need for a truck stop/travel center at this location.

“Interstate 80 on this stretch has a lot of trucks, and we would like to offer them unique options inside the Travel Plaza. Driving in and out of this location is very convenient. So, you get off, and you’re right in.”

Some attractions offered will be available for truckers and the public.

“It will be a food court-type setup; that part will be more of a convenience store and a truck shop for the truckers.”

Showers and an exercise room for truckers will be available, and the second floor will include a barbershop and a salt room for relaxation and breathing through halotherapy.

Plenty of fuel will be available for different types of vehicles.

“We will have a considerable diesel canopy with six to seven fueling points. There will also be a separate canopy for RVs and boats and a separate canopy for cars. There will be three canopies: one for the big semis, one for the trucks, boats, and RVs, and another for your regular vehicles and small pickup trucks.”

A liquor license transfer is now being processed. Beer will be sold out of a cooler, like a beer cave or convenience store. The restaurants will not serve beer with their orders.

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

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

Given the size of the project and the work still to be completed, Bhatti was asked if he could estimate the cost of the massive project, the largest the company has undertaken.

“It’s a moving target every day,” Bhatti said. “So, if I told you something today, that’s probably inaccurate. But, I’ll let you know this. I’ll be hitting the piggy banks before this is over.

“Your question is very complex, so I don’t know the answer to it. We have a CPN (Credit Privacy Number) and accounting people who sit inside the office, but building something like this requires a lot of effort, finances, bank support, and then local support from the contractors. It’s all a mixed effort.”

What’s next for University Korner after the completion of the truck stop?

He has eyes on New Bethlehem.

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

Occupying an entire block on Broad Street…

“This will be a state-of-the-art facility, keeping the customer behavior in mind,” Bhatti explained. “All of the land is intended for use in the project.”