![\"Dwight](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260226_170543.jpg\")
Dwight Zimmerman, and spouse Kathi, owners of The Pretzel Hut in Lancaster County, bought Heisler\u2019s Cloverleaf Dairy in Lewistown Valley on Feb. 17 2026. (RON DEVLIN\/STAFF PHOTO)<\/p>\nDwight Zimmerman, and spouse Kathi, owners of The Pretzel Hut in Lancaster County, bought Heisler\u2019s Cloverleaf Dairy in Lewistown Valley on Feb. 17 2026. (RON DEVLIN\/STAFF PHOTO)<\/p>\n
Several new business endeavors in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties are focusing on health and wellness.<\/p>\n
Wright Center expanding footprint in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre<\/p>\n
The Wright Center for Community Health plans to start a $4.1 million project to construct a health center in North Scranton to replace its existing one on North Main Avenue.<\/p>\n
Plans for the new health clinic call for demolishing a building at 1727-1729 N. Main Ave. and building a new structure there \u2014 next to the Wright Center for Community Health North Scranton health center at 1721 N. Main Ave., which opened in July 2023 \u2014 and then razing the 1721 building after completion of the new building, according to a statement issued at a recent city zoning meeting by Dr. Jignesh Y. Sheth, senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer.<\/p>\n
The health care organization plans to use a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant of $984,585 to fund part of the project, which has a groundbreaking planned for spring and a completion date of fall\/winter 2026, weather permitting, Sheth said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Wright Center will continue serving patients at the existing building while construction is underway next door,\u201d Sheth said.<\/p>\n
In Wilkes-Barre, The Wright Center opened a new pharmacy in mid March followed by the addition of a HNL Lab, which opened at the center at the end of the month.<\/p>\n
The 1,400-square-foot pharmacy, located at 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Operations will be led by pharmacist Sarah Mucciolo, with support from pharmacists Brianna Galvin and Michael Mucciolo. Most common prescriptions can be filled while customers wait, while some specialty medications may require 24 hours notice. Services will be available to Wright Center patients as well as the general public.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opening of our Wilkes-Barre pharmacy reflects The Wright Center\u2019s ongoing commitment to expanding access to the health services our communities need and deserve,\u201d Sheth said. \u201cSeveral pharmacies around the region have closed over the past few years, so we\u2019re excited to offer this service to our communities, whether they are Wright Center patients or obtain medical care elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Plans call for the Wilkes-Barre pharmacy to also deliver patient prescriptions to Wright Center locations in Lackawanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. Patients will eventually be able to pick up prescriptions at whichever community health center is most convenient for them.<\/p>\n
The pharmacy will operate alongside a new 1,400-square-foot laboratory operated by HNL Lab Medicine for routine testing, further enhancing the services available at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre. Together, the pharmacy and laboratory will help reduce barriers to care for patients who might otherwise struggle to access these resources, Sheth said.<\/p>\n
This marks the third HNL Lab Medicine patient service center located within a Wright Center community health center, joining sites at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, and The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave.<\/p>\n
Rising Stars youth training and physical therapy center opening in Wilkes-Barre<\/p>\n
Rising Stars Youth Training Inc. has received zoning approval to open in the former Rite Aid on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre.<\/p>\n
Marques Cooley and John Underwood, brothers and the heads of Rising Stars, said the 501c(3) nonprofit personal-training and physical-therapy studio would provide children and adults with injury-prevention training, as well as physical therapy and orthopedic therapy. The center, which is to be outfitted with fitness and training equipment and turf, will evaluate members and provide them individualized workout and recovery plans. A physical therapist will be on site to guide people with their training, as will be an orthopedic physician.<\/p>\n
Cooley, 42, said he was inspired to launch the Rising Stars by a knee injury he suffered while attending Meyers High School, where he played football and participated in track and field.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just wanted to help people with that early injury \u2026 help them get over that or help them get through it,\u201d Cooley said.<\/p>\n
He said the center would seek to work with local school districts such as Wilkes-Barre Area, where Underwood, 50, has children enrolled, and Wyoming Valley West, where Cooley is the defensive coordinator for the junior high school Spartans football team.<\/p>\n
Benny\u2019s opens in downtown Scranton<\/p>\n
Benny\u2019s picked the right time to open a new location in downtown Scranton as the city\u2019s annual St. Patrick\u2019s Parade and March Madness led to high traffic in its opening weeks.<\/p>\n
The restaurant, which opened its fourth location on March 8 in the former Kildare\u2019s Irish Pub\/Railyard Restaurant & Bar property, 119 Jefferson Ave., was founded in Blakely in 2016, at 1216 Main St., and expanded to 916 Northern Blvd. in South Abington Twp. in July 2023 and to the Green Ridge section of Scranton in March 2024 at the former location of Morgan\u2019z Pub & Eatery, 315 Green Ridge St. The newest downtown location has been a great success so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cParade day was a complete success. We sold over 3,000 wristbands \u2014 that\u2019s how many people were on the property. The college kids have been coming in and out and a lot of our regulars from our other locations have been coming out to check the new place out,\u201d said Manager Brandy Ortiz. \u201cMarch Madness has been a huge success. We\u2019ve been busy from that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Corey Bayo and Brendon O\u2019Malley are co-owners of Benny\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Alter Bar offers farm fresh options in Scranton<\/p>\n
The Alter Bar, which opened March 17, occupies a 2,500-square-foot space on the first floor of 116 N. Washington Ave. in downtown Scranton, behind the Empanada King eatery with an entrance from the Center Street alley. The farm-to-table establishment operated by Elisha and Patrick Nolan is a second location for the pair, which also owns the\u00a0Alter House in South Abington Twp.<\/p>\n
The Nolans were excited to be part of a downtown that is on the rise.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a real energy building downtown right now. People are going out, they\u2019re exploring, and they\u2019re ready for something that feels elevated,\u201d Elisha said.<\/p>\n
She was quick to add that an elevated experience isn\u2019t meant to be intimidating, rather it is just a focus on quality.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlter Bar brings a level of attention to both food and cocktails that you don\u2019t always find in a casual night out,\u201d she said. \u201cEvery drink is crafted, every detail matters, and the food is designed to be shared, experienced and talked about. We\u2019re trying to be the place you remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raising Cane\u2019s plans W-B Twp. location<\/p>\n
Raising Cane\u2019s is rising in Wilkes-Barre Twp.<\/p>\n
The rapidly growing chicken finger chain plans to open a restaurant in a new business strip on Mundy Street, dubbed \u201cThe Spot on Mundy,\u201d located between the Orloski\u2019s Car Wash and Lube Shop and the Olive Garden and Outback Steakhouse restaurants. The 3-400-square-foot store will include a drive-thru.<\/p>\n
The restaurant chain, which launched in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1996, is named after the founder\u2019s yellow Labrador Retriever, a breed that continues to be the company\u2019s mascot.<\/p>\n
The restaurant\u2019s menu is intentionally limited to chicken fingers with a special dipping sauce, French fries, Texas toast and coleslaw.<\/p>\n
There are approximately 1,000 Raising Cane\u2019s locations in the United States and 17 in Pennsylvania, including one in Allentown.<\/p>\n
The Wilkes-Barre Twp. location should be open by early 2027.<\/p>\n
Philly Pretzel Factory opens in Laurel Mall<\/p>\n
Philly Pretzel Factory, a counter-serve chain that specializes in pretzels, dips and pretzel party trays, held its grand opening in the Laurel Mall in Hazleton on March 20 and celebrated with a free pretzel for everyone who stopped by that week.<\/p>\n
Lisa Stetz, a lifelong resident of Hazleton, owns the location.<\/p>\n
Philly Pretzel Factory has 80 locations across Pennsylvania, including one on the Scranton Carbondale Highway in Dickson City.<\/p>\n
Coffee Inclusive continues growth with Inclusive Grounds<\/p>\n
Coffee Inclusive continues to grow with announcement of its latest endeavor \u2014 Inclusive Grounds.<\/p>\n
Coffee Inclusive, which opened in 2023 and is operated by a staff with diverse abilities, expanded with Bakery Inclusive in 2025 and now will operate Inclusive Grounds, a coffee roasting company designed to further expand inclusive employment opportunities in the region.<\/p>\n
At the announcement, which was made at the one-year anniversary celebration of the opening of Bakery Inclusive in March, Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo said, \u201cBy creating meaningful employment opportunities and empowering individuals of all abilities to participate in our local workforce, Coffee Inclusive has strengthened not only our downtown economy, but the very fabric of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heisler\u2019s Cloverleaf Dairy under new ownership<\/p>\n
Heisler\u2019s Cloverleaf Dairy, a Schuylkill County agricultural and recreational landmark in the rolling fields of Walker Twp. founded by Morris and Pearl Heisler in 1924, is now under the ownership of Dwight and Kathi Zimmerman after 102 years in the Heisler family.<\/p>\n
But the Zimmermans aren\u2019t new to operating a business or to the Heisler brand. They opened The Pretzel Hut in Newmanstown in 2024, offering handmade soft pretzels and selling Heisler\u2019s ice cream. The 45-seat restaurant also features a petting zoo, which includes a menagerie of goats, chickens, peacocks and other farm animals.<\/p>\n
Heisler\u2019s Cloverleaf Dairy and adjoining Heisler\u2019s Dairy Bar, built in 1957, has drawn generations for miniature golf, a driving range, arcade, comfort food and, above all, 33 flavors of ice cream made on the premises. For the last 44 years, the business was operated by Ann and the late Leonard W. Ostergaard, Morris Heisler\u2019s nephew.<\/p>\n
Dwight said they are committed to maintaining the down-home philosophy laid down by Morris Heisler and continued by the Ostergaards \u2014 giving people a quality product at a decent price with a friendly smile.<\/p>\n
The new owners have begun adding additional outdoor seating and landscaping at the dairy bar. Dwight also envisions expanding the footprint of off-premises sales of Heisler\u2019s Ice Cream. They also are adding menu items, including, of course, The Pretzel Hut\u2019s signature soft pretzels.<\/p>\n
\u201cHeisler\u2019s has a long legacy that\u2019s woven into the community,\u201d Dwight said. \u201cIt\u2019s an honor to take over something like this and grow it in a way that honors its history.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suraci\u2019s Wilkes-Barre closes inside Clubhouse 315<\/p>\n
Suraci\u2019s Wilkes-Barre, located at Clubhouse 315 inside the former Sunshine Market at 1492 state Route 315 in Plains Twp., closed at the end of February.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a heavy heart, we share that Suraci\u2019s Wilkes-Barre has officially closed its doors,\u201d restaurant owners said in a Facebook post. \u201cThis chapter may be coming to an end but we are beyond grateful for every customer who walked through our doors, shared a meal, celebrated milestones, and supported us from beginning to end.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clubhouse 315, a golf and entertainment venue offering golf simulators, putting greens and other features, welcomed Suraci\u2019s when it opened in May 2024.<\/p>\n
Suraci\u2019s, which specializes in homemade soups, hoagies and daily specials, still has a location open at 1262 Wyoming Ave., in Forty Fort.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dwight Zimmerman, and spouse Kathi, owners of The Pretzel Hut in Lancaster County, bought Heisler\u2019s Cloverleaf Dairy in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":160167,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[201,182,803,28,231,178,180,179,729],"class_list":{"0":"post-160166","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-scranton","8":"tag-lackawanna-county","9":"tag-local-news","10":"tag-luzerne-county","11":"tag-pennsylvania","12":"tag-schuylkill-county","13":"tag-scranton","14":"tag-scranton-headlines","15":"tag-scranton-news","16":"tag-uncategorized"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160166"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160166\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}