Burger King To Unveil A New Restaurant In King Of Prussia This Fall

Location of Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

UPPER MERION — The king is getting some new digs, and it’s going to be a whopper of a castle.

Just two months shy of its 50th anniversary, the Burger King on DeKalb Pike in King of Prussia was demolished Wednesday to make way for a stone and stucco beauty featuring a drive-through and a Wired Your Way Café — amenities fitting the king’s royally updated new image.

Debuting on Aug. 13, 1963 as store number 113 under the future fast food empire’s brief ownership of partners James McLamore and David Edgerton, the intriguing fresh concept in fast casual dining that specialized in Whopper and Whaler (fish) sandwiches, French fries and milk shakes kicked off in King of Prussia the same year as The Plaza, another icon that’s gone through a radical transformation over the years.

The 568 W. DeKalb Pike store was the first Home of the Whopper — an enduring trademark that will figure prominently into the signage of the new design — to stake its claim in the area, ahead of Trooper (store number 179) and Blue Bell (363).

Read more:  http://www.timesherald.com/article/20130605/FINANCE01/130609835/burger-king-to-unveil-a-new-restaurant-in-king-of-prussia-this-fall#full_story

CHOP To Build New Facility In King Of Prussia

Location of Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

UPPER MERION TOWNSHIP – Realen Properties’ master plan for a multifaceted center in King of Prussia is back in full swing.

With residential construction imminent, those who may not necessarily be calling the Village at Valley Forge home will ultimately find it to be a premier destination for working, shopping, dining and, now, medical care.

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia will break ground by the end of summer for a Specialty Care Center on the roughly nine acres it now owns at the corner of North Gulph Road and South Goddard Boulevard.

CHOP at the Village at Valley Forge, expected to be completed by December, 2014, will replace an existing location the hospital has leased on Mall Boulevard since 1997.

Read more:  http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-mercury/story/chop-build-new-facility-king-prussia-0/1

Doc Popcorn Becomes Hit At King Of Prussia Mall

King of Prussia Mall (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

UPPER MERION – When you’ve got a bad case of the mall munchies, Doc Popcorn is there to prescribe an all-natural, relatively guilt-free remedy.

The good doctor will see you at the sunny kiosk on the lower level of The Plaza at King of Prussia, near JC Penney, away from the food court.

Food court fare is probably not what you’re hungry for anyway if you’ve followed your nose to the source of the unmistakable aroma of this freshly popped lighter bite.

Crowds have been lining up to bag a Doc Popcorn gourmet treat since husband and wife team Melanie Kittrell and Fred Smith created a niche for themselves by providing shoppers with a snack the couple can believe it, noted Melanie.

Read more:  http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-times-herald/story/doc-popcorn-becomes-hit-king-prussia-mall/1

King Of Prussia Mall Announces New Retailers

King of Prussia Mall (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

KING OF PRUSSIA — Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), the world’s leading retail real estate company, announced the addition of six new merchants, along with three retailer expansions, to King of Prussia Mall.

The center continues to add stores to its more than 400 retail and dining options.

Tommy Bahama opened its first stand-alone store in Pennsylvania in July.

Athleta is set open by the end of the summer.  Designed and tested by women athletes, Athleta offers women’s swimwear and athletic clothing for yoga, running, golf and tennis. Both stores will be located on the upper level of the Plaza.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120831/FINANCE01/120839902/king-of-prussia-mall-announces-new-retailers?nstrack=sid:48949|met:300|cat:0|order:4#full_story

King Of Prussia Mall Opening Late Today

King of Prussia Mall (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

King of Prussia Mall will open late today, Tuesday October 30th, due to weather.  The mall will open at 1PM, though some stores may remain closed.  Please check with your favorite store to find out about their opening hours today.

King Of Prussia Mall Closed

King of Prussia Mall (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Due to weather emergencies concerning Hurricane Sandy, King of Prussia will be closed on Monday, October 29th.  Please check back as the storm progresses for updates regarding opening hours on Tuesday, October 30th.

Sheraton Valley Forge Takes It Up A Notch

English: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

UPPER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — The building that has known incarnations such as Sheraton Park Ridge Hotel & Conference Center, Park Ridge Hotel and, briefly, Clarion Hotel, was demolished to bare bones more than a year ago and reinvented as the Sheraton Valley Forge.

The $30 million-plus facility at 480 N. Gulph Road ups the ante — even by King of Prussia’s emerging platinum standards.

“We gutted the entire property,” said Eric Davies, COO of the hotel’s owner and operator Wurzak Hotel Group, standing near a dramatic, high-ceilinged entrance way shimmering with reflective daylight.  “Everything is pretty much 100 percent new.  We raised the bar area to lobby level and opened up a two-story entrance to have natural light coming through and into the lounge seating area.”

Philadelphia-based Wurzak purchased the 9-acre property in 2009 and continued operating it as a Clarion Hotel such for a time prior to franchising the Sheraton brand from Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc., through a deal that was closed by HREC Investments Advisors.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20121019/FINANCE01/121019353/sheraton-valley-forge-takes-it-up-a-notch&pager=full_story

Sands Bethlehem Leads The Way As Pa. Slot Machine Revenue Up In May

English: Slot machines at Wookey Hole Caves (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

PHILADELPHIA. PA  (AP) — Pennsylvania’s gross slot machine revenue was up 3.4 percent in May over the year before, boosted by the second full month of play at Valley Forge Casino Resort in suburban Philadelphia. Existing casinos, meanwhile, saw a modest rise after they registered just the third such monthly decline in April.

The state’s 11 casinos — including Valley Forge, which opened March 31 — collected $212.5 million in gross slots revenue in May, an increase over $205.5 million from the same period the year before, according to revenue figures released Monday by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The 10 existing casinos that were open in both May 2011 and May 2012 saw an increase of 1.5 percent, a month after their gross slots revenue had dipped .6 percent.

Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem showed the most growth in May, pulling in $25.1 million in gross slots revenue, an increase of 11.2 percent over May 2011. The state’s second-newest facility, Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia, wasn’t far behind: It reported $16.4 million in gross revenue, an increase of just less than 10 percent.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-pennsylvania-casino-revenue-060412-20120604,0,4866675.story

King Of Prussia Wegmans To Open Its Doors Sunday

Location of Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

UPPER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA - “Didn’t there used to be a golf course here?”

There was a gleam in Danny Wegman‘s eye as he cracked a joke, standing on the spot where he and a lot of other folks literally made the earth move – after 16 years of hitches and hurdles.

At a sneak peak of the freshly constructed Wegmans market at 1 Village Drive on Thursday, the company’s amiable CEO said he could hardly believe that his namesake 80th store was three days away from opening in King of Prussia.

The Rochester, N.Y. native recalled how excited his dad, Robert Wegman, was when he first got a glimpse of the North Gulph Road property – then the home of Valley Forge Golf Club – all those years ago.

Read more: http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-times-herald/story/king-prussia-wegmans-open-its-doors-sunday/1

AFA Foods In King Of Prussia Declares Bankruptcy

Ground beef in industrial grinder (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

NEW YORK (AP) – Ground beef processor AFA Foods said Monday that it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and selling its assets after the public outcry over the beef filler known as “pink slime” derailed its efforts to save its already struggling business.

A spokesman said in an email that the company does not rely on boneless lean beef trimmings and uses it only based on customer specifications. But he said the controversy over the ammonia-treated meat filler has dramatically reduced demand for all ground beef products.

AFA Foods, based in King of Prussia, Pa., processes more than 500 million pounds of ground beef products a year. It distributes to retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Safeway Inc. and BJ’s Wholesale Club. Fast-food chain customers include Burger King, Jack in the Box and Wendy’s.

Read more: http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-times-herald/story/afa-foods-king-prussia-declares-bankruptcy/1

Pennsylvania Cements Status As Nation’s No. 2 Gambling Market

Slot machines at Wookey Hole Caves (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  PottsVegas never happened but evidently other communities have embraced casinos!  King of Prussia wasn’t too good for a casino!

PHILADELPHIA – Pennsylvania’s 11 casinos pulled in more than $233.1 million in gross slot machine revenue last month, setting an all-time monthly high since the state’s first casino opened in November 2006 and cementing the state’s status as the nation’s second-largest gambling market.

The slots totals released Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board include revenue from two test nights and one day of operations at the state’s 11th casino, Valley Forge Casino Resort, which opened Saturday. Overall, the figures broke the previous monthly record of $218.3 million set in July, and they represent an 8.5 percent increase over March 2011.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=377820

Casino Nears Completion At Valley Forge Convention Center

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Construction crews are putting the finishing touches on Pennsylvania’s 11th slot-machine casino, set to open next month at a convention center just outside Valley Forge National Historical Park.

The sounds of drills, power lifts and hammers filled the air at the still-under-construction casino Tuesday, when the casino’s operators gave tours of the new facility. That cacophony, however, will soon give way to the cha-ching of coins and the whirr of slot machines when the casino fully opens for business on March 31 with 600 slots and 50 table games.

The scheduled opening comes as competition for gamblers is growing in the suburban Philadelphia market, which already has the Parx Casino in Bensalem, SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia and Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack in Chester. By law, Pennsylvania could one day be home to 14 casinos.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-valley-forge-casino-20120228,0,6627210.story

Target Eyes Valley Forge Shopping Center For Possible New Store

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UPPER MERION — A new development at the Valley Forge Shopping Center goes before the planning commission next week. If approved, a new Target department store and Starbucks Coffee could come to the township in a few months.

The Valley Forge Center Associate are planning to redevelop the eastern portion of the Valley Forge Shopping Center, to include a Target department store, a Starbucks and an inline commercial building.

Read more: http://www.timesherald.com/article/20120203/NEWS01/120209817

LOCAL FOUNDATIONS RECEIVE $10,000 FROM LL BEAN TO PROMOTE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES TO AREA STUDENTS

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LL Bean commemorates the opening of their new retail store in King of Prussia by partnering with the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation and the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation.  Each foundation received $5,000 to fund a mini-grant program which will benefit local students within their respective service areas. The purpose of this program is to encourage outdoor experiences through field trips and programs that are specifically related to physical activity and environmental education.

The mini-grant funds are designated to benefit kindergarten through middle-school aged students in local public schools. Qualifying programs may include field trips to local parks or arboretums, or hiking and biking outings on trails such as the Schuylkill River Trail. In addition to using grant dollars to access local and free resources, funds can also be used toward the field trip’s transportation costs.  There is no deadline for submission, and grants up to $300 will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

For questions, application and a list of local outdoor experience resources contact:  Anna Brendle, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation, ABrendle@pottstownfoundation.org; or Lynn Pike Hartman, Phoenixville Community Health Foundation, LPHartman@pchf1.org.

King Of Prussia Mall Announces Yet Another Expansion Project!

Just a few days after demolition of the former John Wanamaker store at the Plaza began and the announcement about the construction of a new two-story addition to take its place; the King of Prussia Mall has announced an even larger project that will finally connect both malls.  40 more stores will be added when the malls are finally joined.  The Wanamaker project is adding 10 more stores.

The Plaza with its 1.7 million square-feet will be combined with the Court’s 900,000+ square-feet.  With the additions (200,000+ square-feet) there will be nearly 3 million square-feet of space.   The King of Prussia Mall is the largest mall in the United States in terms of leasable retail space.

The latest project is subject to approval by local government.  I would be beyond shocked if that didn’t happen!

King Of Prussia Mall Adding 122,000 Square-Foot Building On Former Wanamaker’s Site

The old Wanamaker’s store at King of Prussia Mall will meet with a wrecking ball to make way for a new 122,000 square-foot building that will house 10 new stores.  The former Wanamaker’s store has been empty for some time now.

King of Prussia Mall is having a great year and the mall is looking to add more prime space to attract additional retailers.  The new construction will continue through the fall of 2012.

This is the first major redevelopment project at the mall since 2001 when the Pavilion was created at the Court in the former Strawbridge and Clothier store.

J. C. Penney Store At King Of Prussia Mall Splurges On Remodel

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J.C. Penney is the last original anchor store at the King of Prussia Plaza.  The plaza opened in 1963 with Penney’s, Wanamaker’s and Korvette’s as anchor stores.  To celebrate nearly 50 years at the Plaza, the store splurged on a makeover!

To read all about it, click here: http://www.timesherald.com/articles/2011/09/13/business/doc4e6fe79c39906162083352.txt

King Of Prussia Mall Open Today

King of Prussia Mall has re-opened and resumed its regular business hours (the mall will open at 11 a.m.) We thank our shoppers, retailers and mall employees for their cooperation throughout the situation involving Hurricane Irene.

King Of Prussia Mall Closing At 5pm Today!

King of Prussia Mall (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Due to the anticipated impact of Hurricane Irene, King of Prussia Mall will be closing at 5 p.m. as a precautionary measure to help ensure the safety of shoppers, retailers and mall employees. The mall expects to re-open tomorrow at 11 a.m. for regular business hours. Should that change, more information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Another Wegman’s Coming To The 422 Corridor

Not long after the Collegeville, PA Wegman’s opened, a second Wegman’s was proposed and approved for King of Prussia, PA in the Village at Valley Forge development, which runs along North Gulph Road.

The former Valley Forge Golf Course, nestled between 422 and North Gulph Road, will be the new home for the area’s second Wegman’s grocery store.  The store will be 107,000 square feet and situated on more than a hundred acres on the property.  A 2012 opening date is projected.

Reconstruction of existing roads in the area will take place to accommodate the traffic entering and exiting the development in the coming months.

There are six Wegman’s stores open in the Philadelphia region.  The Lehigh Valley has three stores in Allentown, Bethlehem and Nazareth.