Jun 30, 2014

Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Peter J. Camiel Service Plaza Reopens With New Restaurant Offerings

BETHESDA, MD—Global restaurateur HMSHost and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission celebrated last week the reopening of the newly renovated Peter J. Camiel Service Plaza. The plaza now welcomes travelers with three new restaurants, national classics Starbucks and Roy Rogers, and a brand new restaurant developed by HMSHost, PZA. The Peter J. Camiel Service Plaza is located on the westbound side of the PA Turnpike at mile marker 304.8, between the Downingtown and Morgantown Interchanges.

Peter J. Camiel Service Plaza is the first location to welcome PZA, HMSHost’s latest addition to its restaurant portfolio. Gone are the days when travelers could choose from just a slice of cheese or pepperoni pizza. PZA is bringing pizza into a new age, serving hand-made pizzas – the dough balled and stretched right before guest’s eyes and rising with bubbled-crust edges. Innovative creations like the Uptown, with fresh mozzarella, caramelized onions, roma tomatoes and basil pesto; or the Buffalo Chicken Pizza, with roasted chicken, fontina, blue cheese and celery, will leave mouths watering and wanting more But PZA is more than just a pizza joint. Travelers will be introduced to the meatball smasher, a twist on traditional meatballs, bursting with the freshest, locally-sourced ingredients, from the classic beef and chicken, to the spicy red, basil pesto, traditional tomato and roasted garlic and parmesan sauces, to the array of fresh cheeses such as blue and goat. Guests can also find sandwiches, calzones and even salads at PZA.

Starbucks and Roy Rogers are brand names that travelers across the U.S. have grown to love. With many people taking long road trips over the summer, Starbucks coffee will be a welcome sight on the PA Turnpike. Whether you enjoy a Vanilla Latte, a Caramel Frappuccino, or just a hot cup of freshly brewed Caffe Verona, Starbucks is America’s number one choice. And with a selection of baked goods and sandwiches, Starbucks has something for everyone. Roy Rogers is an American classic that has been around since 1968. Everyone loves a good hamburger and fries, or some fried chicken, and Roy Rogers has been one of the best around for decades.

“We couldn’t be happier to be a part of this project to restore the Service Plazas along the PA Turnpike and bring a refreshed look and feel to the Peter J. Camiel Service Plaza,” said Amy Dunne, Vice President of Business Development at HMSHost. “We’re excited to open our first PZA location here, as well as bring in two of America’s most well-loved brands in Starbucks and Roy Rogers, to offer a little bit of everything to travelers along the Turnpike.”

The plaza renovations were made possible by a 30-year, public-private redevelopment initiative launched in 2006 when the Turnpike finalized agreements with HMSHost and Sunoco Inc. Under the contracts, HMSHost committed $100 million to rebuild 17 plazas, and Sunoco is investing $70 million to redevelop the service stations and convenience stores. The Peter J. Camiel Service Plaza is the 15th of the 17 Plazas to be reconstructed, with the North Midway Plaza in Bedford County and the Valley Forge Service Plaza scheduled to finish reconstructions in 2015.

“Sunoco is proud of its ongoing relationship with the Pennsylvania Turnpike and HMSHost at all the turnpike’s plazas, and we are happy once again to be serving travelers who have come to rely on our high-quality fuel and friendly APlus service,” added Ed Rhodes, Business Development Manager at Sunoco.