ALLENTOWN, Pa. – It’s official — a Royal Farms convenience store, gas station and car wash will take over the location of a well-known restaurant in Allentown.<\/p>\n
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Royal Farms site plan in Allentown<\/p>\n
Allentown Planning Commission<\/p>\n
The city’s planning commission approved Tuesday plans for a Royal Farms on the site where the Brass Rail restaurant currently stands.<\/p>\n
The restaurant and several other buildings will be demolished after it closes this summer, according to Chris Brown, chairman of the planning commission.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll probably be sitting over there at the AutoZone and watch it happen, and there will be tears, there will definitely be tears,” said Cindy Ebert, Brass Rail office manager.<\/p>\n
Ebert has worked at the restaurant for 45 years. She says she’s heartbroken it’s closing, but it just got too difficult to keep it up and running.<\/p>\n
“It seems like all the mom-and-pops and small businesses are disappearing, and all that will be left is chains,” she said.<\/p>\n
The Brass Rail previously announced its last day would be June 4, after more than 90 years of business.<\/p>\n
Royal Farms will acquire the Brass Rail, Batteries Plus Bulbs, Budget Truck Rentals and the Pacific Pride gas station.<\/p>\n
The Pacific Pride will stay intact and the diesel fuel tank will still be utilized, but Batteries Plus Bulbs, Budget and the Brass Rail will be demolished.<\/p>\n
Plans call for two entrances off of Lehigh Street and one off of 31st Street. A new sidewalk is also expected.<\/p>\n
Royal Farms is still working with PennDOT to finalize construction plans.<\/p>\n
There’s no timeline yet for the project, but work is expected to begin later this year, Brown said.<\/p>\n
The planners granted preliminary\/final approval to the plan.<\/p>\n
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A Brass Rail restaurant TV commercial from 1981<\/p>\n
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