Chris, left, and Bill Kroski, Co-Owners of Juiced Fuel NEPA. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scott Wagner, Brant Morris, Brian Wolford and Jason Edmonds of Fine Line Homes in the new design studio at 596 Susquehanna Blvd. on Thursday, May 7, 20206. (John Haeger / Staff Photographer)
Several new businesses have launched in the region, offering everything from ice cream and cupcakes, to hot dogs and Mexican food, coffee and spirits, and gasoline and home building products.
Cocktails from CK’s Cantina in Dallas now come in ready-to-drink cans
A Dallas eatery, which began offering margaritas to go during its COVID closure and transition to takeout, is turning the practice into a new business.
“People were coming just for that — margaritas to go,” Cody Kyttle, an owner of CK’s Cantina and Grill recalled. “People were coming up and buying them as fast as we could make them — $12 for a 24-ounce.”
Kyttle, 40, through a separate company, Kyttle’s Cocktails, has launched a ready-to-drink canned version of his adult beverage, CK’s Classic Margarita.
He’s joining a growing trend across the nation.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States recently reported ready-to-drink cocktails, such as Surfside and High Noon, represent the fastest-growing product in the spirits category, with an “impressive” 16.4% growth in sales last year. Sales of other spirits were down 2.2% collectively.
“Consumers are showing a strong preference for ready-to-drink cocktails because they’re made with real spirits, offer great convenience and flavor, and include lower-alcohol options,” Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the council, said in the group’s annual report.
Kyttle said the ingredients in the canned cocktail are nearly identical to what’s used to make the popular margaritas at the restaurant.
“There’s no artificial sweetener. We use cane sugar. There is no artificial color. Everything is based on natural flavors,” Kyttle said.
The drink is manufactured and canned by a Hershey-based beverage company for Kyttle, based on his recipe.
In addition to CK’s Cantina, CK’s Classic Margarita cans are now available to go at Lakeway Beverage in Lehman Twp., Wyoming Valley Beverage in Edwardsville, and Patrick’s Foodmart in Lake Twp. Spare Time Pizza in Dallas sells them for in-house consumption. The list is likely to grow, Kyttle said, as sales have been very brisk.
Borthwick brothers open new cidery in downtown Scranton
Three brothers transformed a downtown Scranton property into a new cidery while preserving some of the city’s past in the process.
Tom, Mike and Alex Borthwick — through their firm Mod Real Estate LLC — purchased the building at 503 Linden St. in May 2024 for $500,000, according to a deed recorded in Lackawanna County.
The location previously housed the Judge and Jury and the Irish Wolf Pub, and most recently an after-hours club. After opening the original Electric City Ciderworks location on South Main Street in Old Forge in July 2022, the Borthwick brothers turned their attention to downtown Scranton.
Following extensive renovations, the brothers opened Electric City Ciderworks’ Scranton location in April, Tom Borthwick said.
“When we bought it, the windows were shot out, the ceilings were collapsing, and there were leaks everywhere,” he said.
In the renovation they kept classic features like exposed brick and utilized trim from the former Lincoln-Jackson Elementary School and slate chalkboards from the former John Marshall school.
In addition to multiple ciders on tap throughout the year, the establishment also partners with several local breweries — including Groove Brewing and Mutant Brewing in Scranton, Pittston-based Blind Cat Beer Co., Scott Twp.-based Last Minute Brewing, and Palmyra Twp.-based Hopping Eagle Brewing Co., Borthwick said.
Borthwick stated the ciders they offer differ from others served in the region and beyond.
“Our ciders run on the drier side. We use champagne yeast, so everything is going to be a little lighter and a little bit more bubbly than maybe what people are used to,” he said.
Coney Island Lunch and new ice cream parlor set to open soon
Nothing says summer like hot dogs and ice cream, so it’s good news that developer John Basalyga soon plans to reopen the Coney Island Lunch building, 515 Lackawanna Ave., along with a new ice cream parlor next door.
In 2023, Basalyga’s JBAS Realty purchased the Coney Island Lunch property from C.I.L. Associates and Pete and Bob Ventura for $300,000. Basalyga also acquired the lot and outer western wall attached to the Coney Island Lunch building from the Scranton Redevelopment Authority. The Venturas, who ran the restaurant for nearly 50 years and had been involved much longer, decided to retire and closed the landmark shop in December 2023. Their grandfather Steve Karampilas launched the business on Cedar Avenue in 1923, and their stepfather, John Karampilas, moved the eatery to 515 Lackawanna Ave. in 1988.
A new ice cream parlor, Raegan’s, named after Basalyga’s younger daughter, in a former vacant lot next door at 513 Lackawanna Ave., will add a new element to the longtime eatery.
Basalyga envisions bright, vibrant signage outside the restaurant and ice cream parlor, similar to eateries in large metropolitan areas. But even as Basalyga adds modern touches to the restaurant, he remains committed to maintaining the character customers came to appreciate throughout the decades, including adding fabric awnings like the ones that once hung over the windows. Basalyga also stated the restaurant will feature a big counter, similar to the old design, just on the other side to create more space. He also purchased new red vinyl bar stools and booths to replicate the old ones, and designed a white-and-black checkerboard floor.
“It’s going to have a really cool, old, authentic feel with really good vibes when you walk in the door,” Basalyga said. “Hopefully you’ll be transported to an early 1900s time.”
Both businesses are expected to open in late July.
Reading & Northern Railroad launches its own coffee brand
The hum of a locomotive will soon be paired with the aroma of coffee.
Port Clinton-based Reading & Northern Railroad — which serves customers throughout Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland, Schuylkill and Wyoming counties and runs popular excursions to Jim Thorpe — welcomed more than 410,000 passengers in 2025 and recently announced a partnership with Berks County-based Firehouse Coffee to offer riders an added perk.
“We’re going to have a tasting tent set up in Jim Thorpe, and we’ll have it available at our location there,” said Russ Scianna Jr., administrative director for Reading & Northern Railroad’s passenger department, adding the new enterprise began May 22. “Eventually, the idea is to roll it out to all the passenger trains we operate.”
Thus, Iron Horse Coffee Company was born.
“We operate steam train trips that we call Iron Horse Rambles — which is a phrase that dates back to the days of the old Reading Company,” Scianna said. “They operated steam-powered passenger trips in the 1960s, to various places, mostly in the coal regions.”
In 2022, Reading & Northern restored to operation one of the steam locomotives previously used on those trips, Scianna said.
Described as distinctive, satisfying and easy to enjoy, railroad officials noted the Colombian coffee features a “clean brightness upfront which unfolds into a smooth, medium body layered with notes of chocolate and toffee before finishing with a soft touch of vanilla.”
Iron Horse also will offer a decaffeinated option along with seasonal offerings that will rotate throughout the year.
Drums ice cream shop opens second location
Pecora’s Creamery, a family-owned ice cream shop in Drums, held the grand opening of its second location on May 16.
Situated at 588 Susquehanna Blvd., Hazle Twp., Pecora’s expansion project is across the street from the Laurel Mall.
“We’re really happy with where the new location is located, in some ways it turned out better than we’d hoped. Since it’s along a main road and so close to the mall, we believe that it’ll draw in a lot of street traffic,” said Alexis Fellin, a manager at Pecora’s Creamery. “The owners, Veronica and Tyler Pecora, have been wanting to expand for a while now, but have been waiting to see how well the Drums location did before committing.”
Pecora’s Creamery opened its first location in Drums in 2019, then called the Milkhouse Creamery, and later opened a second in Berwick in 2021. In 2024, the Pecora family decided to sell the Berwick location and rebrand the Drums location as Pecora’s.
The new location was formerly the office of RWB Construction & Roofing, which later moved to 1350 N. Church St. Fellin said the Pecora family selected it for its proximity to the Laurel Mall.
New restaurant planned for former Wilkes-Barre Friendly’s
A new Mexican restaurant is planned for the former Friendly’s on Kidder Street near the Wyoming Valley Mall.
The owners of the Burrito Loco Mexican Grill and Milan Coal Fired Pizza & Grill at the Shoppes at Yalick Farms on state Route 415 in Dallas Twp. intend to open a new restaurant in Wilkes-Barre. The Friendly’s location closed in January 2025.
The owners include Eric Morales, his parents, Jose Morales and Blanca Tecotl, his sister, Jessica Tecotl, and her husband, Jorge Fuentes. The family opened Burrito Loco Mexican grill in 2021 and then Milan Coal Fired Pizza & Grill next door this past December.
They also operate the Burrito Loco Cantina & Grill at 1126 Commerce Boulevard in Dickson City.
Hazleton cupcake baker seals her goods with a kiss
A self-taught Hazleton baker’s been making her mark on the area as she looks to expand her baking business.
Samantha Kronstadt, who grew up in the Lehigh Valley, has been developing Sealed with a Kiss Cupcakes, a gourmet baking business, over the last year in partnership with the Hazleton Kitchen Incubator program. Now she produces baked goods for sale at other area businesses and for seasonal food events.
“I initially got interested in baking during my junior year at Nazareth High School. I’d picked Home Ec as my elective for that year, but they didn’t teach us much beyond scrambled eggs. That made me pretty frustrated, so I taught myself how to bake to spite it, and ended up making a pretty successful business out of it,” explained Kronstadt.
Kronstadt said that her business is currently split into two facets. One part involves providing baked goods to local businesses, such as Haunt Coffee, and the other focuses on creating goods for personal sale at pop-up events.
Much of the work involves designing new flavors to match with other items on offer, from seasonal coffees to regional wines.
Kronstadt is partnered with the Hazleton Kitchen Incubator Program, which is dedicated to promoting food equity in the Greater Hazleton area by giving aspiring local chefs access to commercial-grade equipment. She currently prepares her commercial sale items at the Hazleton Art League Kitchen, but she hopes to one day own a bakery to call her own.
“Even if it takes me a few years to do, though, having a store or food truck to call my own is something I’m really looking forward to,” she said.
Juiced Fuel NEPA delivers gas right to your car
One brother is a military doctor. The other is a civil engineer. Now, they pump gas.
But they don’t work at a gas station. They deliver fuel directly to customers wherever they are — whether it’s a residential home or a commercial business with a small fleet of vehicles.
Pittston natives Chris and Bill Kroski recently launched a franchise of Charleston, South Carolina-based Juiced Fuel.
The concept is simple: “We bring the fuel to you,” said Chris Kroski, the engineer.
Juiced Fuel is often referred to as the DoorDash of the gasoline industry. It’s motto is: “Skip the gas station forever. With Juiced Fuel, you get on-demand fuel delivery that fits into your routine and keeps your day moving.”
Chris Kroski, 43, of Duryea, said he started working full-time hours with the company after realizing the popularity and potential of the business.
His business partner and brother, Bill, 46, of Yatesville, continues to work full-time as a doctor for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Twp. He runs the business during off-work hours.
The business is located on Stephenson Street in Duryea. The fuel delivery vehicles are hard to miss with their trademark orange paint scheme. There are various fuel delivery packages available on the company’s website.
Customer and neighbor Will Beekman said the business offers a great convenience.
“Our personal and professional lives are so busy that on-demand conveniences are important to us. Juiced Fuel saves us valuable time and money and gives us one less errand to run,” Beekman said. “It’s like Instacart or DoorDash for your vehicle. I’m so glad they are here.”
Fine Line Homes opens new design studio in Hazleton
Fine Line Homes opened a new home design studio located adjacent to its main office at 596 Susquehanna Blvd., Hazleton.
The family-owned homebuilder has served the Hazleton region since the early 1990s when Harris Homes was acquired by their parent company.
“This state-of-the-art space was created with our buyers in mind,” said Fine Line Homes Vice President of Sales and Marketing Bryan Hamilton. “In the design studio, you will be able to see, touch and experience the premium standard materials that we include in every Fine Line home as well as a selection of sought-after upgrade options.”
The company has been crafting site-built homes in Harrisburg since 1972. Since then, Fine Line Homes has grown to six regional offices in New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, including their Hazleton location.
According to Hamilton, the company’s Hazleton office is the busiest location which made it a natural choice to enhance their services.
“Our new design studio in Hazleton reflects our commitment to making the homebuying journey as stress-free as possible — giving buyers the ability to easily visualize how their home could look and to find the best materials to match their unique vision,” he said.
Some of the materials they officer include Yorktowne Cabinetry, counter tops, tile, flooring, interior and exterior lighting, faucets, stone and siding, to name a few.