{"id":23506,"date":"2025-11-03T18:17:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T18:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/23506\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T18:17:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T18:17:09","slug":"former-friendlys-in-palmer-township-to-become-bank-branch-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/23506\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Friendly\u2019s in Palmer Township to become bank branch in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

A long-vacant former Friendly\u2019s restaurant soon will become a financial institution in Palmer Township<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fulton Bank customers recently received letters stating they could begin using the bank\u2019s newest branch at William Penn Plaza, 3011-3099 William Penn Highway, on Jan. 26. <\/p>\n

At 3 p.m. Jan. 23, existing branches at 4001 William Penn Highway and at the 25th Street Shopping Center,<\/a> 25th Street, will be closing permanently.<\/p>\n

A Fulton representative who answered the phone Monday at the existing William Penn Highway branch said those two branches will then merge into the new 3011-3099 William Penn Highway site.<\/p>\n

The property is located in the township\u2019s General Commercial Zoning District within the William Penn Highway Overlay District. <\/p>\n

Fulton Bank representatives are expected to go before township supervisors Monday evening to discuss their development agreement and easement declaration for the project.<\/p>\n

In April, Fulton gained special exception approval <\/a>from the township\u2019s Zoning Hearing Board for the project\u2019s three drive-thru lanes to be built on the site. <\/p>\n

Plans show no changes to the existing building\u2019s footprint. All work to repurpose the building will involve fa\u00e7ade, interior and exterior upgrades. <\/p>\n

To accommodate the drive-thru, Fulton plans to install more curbing, a concrete pad and bollards, as well as perform some repaving and re-striping work. <\/p>\n

There are sufficient parking spaces on the property already for the bank\u2019s use, sufficient space to provide stacking areas for vehicles in the drive-thru, and safe vehicle maneuvering throughout the property, plans state.<\/p>\n

James Raudenbush, the township\u2019s zoning administrator and code enforcement officer, previously told lehighvalleylive.com he doesn\u2019t expect anything unique about the Palmer Township project compared to other Fulton Bank branches.<\/p>\n

Friendly\u2019s closed in Palmer Township<\/a> in September 2022. A location along Catasauqua Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, later shuttered.<\/p>\n

William Penn Plaza is anchored by Weis Markets and Planet Fitness. There are smaller tenants, such as GameStop; Domino\u2019s Pizza; a nail salon, barber shop, and Phoenix Physical Therapy. <\/p>\n

A site map by Colliers International<\/a>, the shopping center\u2019s leasing agent, shows room for at least three more tenants with spaces ranging from 1,050 to 2,550 square feet.<\/p>\n

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