Moe's Southwest Grill in Oaks Opens Thursday 16 October 2014

On Thursday 16 October 2014 Moe's Southwest Grill in the Oaks Shopping Center opens to the general public. 

These coupons were distributed to the stores in the local area. They are to be used by employees with company ID. I think that was downright neighborly.

Anyone can get this free burrito (with purchase of a large drink) for downloading the Moe's app. Moe's should be a welcome addition to the food offerings in Oaks.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Buffalo Wild Wings Opens Tomorrow, Others to Follow

Buffalo Wild Wings opens for business tomorrow, 22 September. BWW is offering one year of free snack wings to the first 100 customers. I wandered over to Oaks Shopping Center to see what kind of activity there was at BWW. To my surprise, there was not even one car in their parking lot.  No line. No one in sight. Nothing going on there. 

I drove around the lot for the remainder of the center.

I spoke with someone working in Pure Cleaners. Expect them to open within two or three weeks.

As seen on the signs in the windows.
Expect Moe's to open Thurs. 16 October.

Work was in progress at Can Tho nails.

Also coming soon is American Dental Care and

                                   Hand and Stone.

Opening in November will be Happy Vision Eye Clinic.

I hope I can hold my excitement in check.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Buffalo Wild Wings Opening Special

I stopped by the soon to open Buffalo Wild Wings on Wed this week.  My intention was to see if BWW had any opening specials for new customers as did Uno last winter. Uno handed discount coupons to anyone who visited just before opening.

I was lead to assistant manager Danielle who was obviously concentrating on getting BWW open. She told me the only opening special was the free snack wings for a year presented to the first 100 customers at 10:00 on Monday morning September 22. The conversation ended there with a long stretch of silence. I thanked her and headed outside to get some photographs of the 13 big screen TVs hanging outside on the radiant heated patio.

The TVs are arranged in three groupings. As seen in this photograph the nearest has 3, the middle 6 and the farthest 4. Because of the orientation of the patio many of these TVs will have glare on them in the daytime. The TVs facing Egypt Rd and Wendy's suffer with occasional headlight glare at night.

The radiant heater can be seen on the open side of the covered patio facing in and down. A friend was wondering if there would be any temporary rain curtain on the open side? I think plastic curtains may be too close to the heaters.

It will only be one week before BWW opens. Then we will see the end results.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Buffalo Wild Wings Opens 22 Sept 2014

If you are driving on Egypt Road, west of US 422, you can't miss the Buffalo Wild Wings at the Oaks Shopping Center in Oaks, PA. The yellow exterior of the building jumps up like a flagman wearing a traffic yellow jumpsuit. The exterior seems complete. The interior of the building is still under construction. If you have been waiting for this place to open, take a deep breath because the anticipation is nearly over.

Job applications are currently being accepted. Employee training starts on Wednesday, 10 September 2014.  Buffalo Wild Wings starts serving Monday 22 September 2014.

Here is an interesting fact as printed on the banner shown above: The first 100 guests receive a coupon book for free snack wings for a year. That should create some excitement.

I can see the line forming now. Friday night a few stalwart wingsmen begin to gather. It's not long before a line takes shape at the door. Aluminum lawn chairs squeak open, nylon pup tents pop-up, acoustic guitars are strumming and singing fills the air. 

No wait a minute that was the Philadelphia Folk Festival a couple of weeks ago. Replace the pup tents, guitars and singing with sports talk radio, plastic ponchos and mobile phones.

Almost two days later, at 10am, Buffalo Wild Wings opens for service and the first 100 guests receive the coupon books.

There will be no turning back after that. Hot wings, cold beer and exciting sports pumping out of nearly 65 big screen TVs, inside and out! What more could a guy ask for? Well maybe the men's room.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Shopping Center Getting Closer to Opening

It has been over a year since construction started on Oaks Shopping Center at the intersection of Black Rock and Egypt Roads, in Oaks, PA. Originally, the center was to open in the autumn of 2013. Inclement weather throughout 2013 kept construction behind schedule. As the winter weather finally begins to recede, construction gets closer to completion.

Wendy's is hiring, as you can see by the sign.

Penn Liberty Bank from Egypt Rd side and behind with servers from Uno parking along the roadway.

Concrete is being cut in front of Wawa. Their fuel pumps are in place under the large canopy.

The stores in the rear of the center are not quite as far along as the bank, Wendy's and Wawa seem to be.

This is an overall view of the center from the corner of Egypt and Gumbes Rds. On the lot in the foreground the Buffalo Wild Wings Bar and Grill will arise. 

It won't be long before bright lights shine all night long, day after day, everyday of the year combined with the odor of burning beef and chicken wafting through the air.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Construction - Beginning of August 2013

Chicago Grill as viewed from Bob Evans parking lot

The construction is moving alone. All the walls are up at Chicago Grill-Pizzeria Uno. Fake stone work is being done on the lower part of the exterior walls. From Egypt Road I can see plastic pipes growing out of the floor inside the walls.

The bank site is on the right of this photograph with Wawa site to the left.

Originally the opening for the Oaks Shopping Center was Fall of 2013. 

Wawa site on the right side of this photograph with Buffalo Wild Wings site on the far left. A tall retaining wall was built between the shopping center and the houses on Gumbes Rd. A white fence was recently installed atop that retaining wall. Both the wall and the fence can be seen behind the Buffalo Wild Wings site.

The roads near the intersection of Black Rock and Egypt Roads are being enlarged, as seen in the photograph above and those below.

A lane has been added to the westbound exit of US 422.

Two lanes have been added to the eastbound exit/entrance of US 422.

Fall is not quite two months away and lasts another 90 some days. 
It is possible completion of this project will happen before Christmas.

We shall see.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Shopping Center Layout

Source:Audubon Land Development

I found a drawing of the planned Oaks Shopping Center. I thought you might be interested in seeing the layout. I have it here for you to study.

The four large buildings close to Egypt Road are from right to left - Penn Liberty Bank, Wawa, Wendy's and the 8,500 sqft building on the left is rumored to be a Buffalo Wild Wings. There are 22 retail spaces located at the back of the lot. The size of the retail spaces range from 1160 sq ft to 3865 sq ft. 

I'm just going to throw out some possible retail establishments that might move into those spaces.

• All night hot dog grill
• Cupcake bakery
• Chinese restaurant
• Mexican restaurant
• Indian restaurant
• Thai restaurant
• Turkish restaurant
• Afghan restaurant
• Persian restaurant
• Iranian restaurant
• Brazilian steak house
• Pho restaurant
• Mongolian hot pot
• Pizzeria
• Bagel shop
• Coffee shop
• Bakery outlet
• Donut shop
• Ice cream shop
• Payday money store
• Craft distillery
• Cheese and wine making supplies
• Diagnostic lab
• Physical therapy
• Tattoo shop
• Fortune teller
• Occult shop
• Cosplay shop
• Video games
• Dollar store
• Five dollar store
• Pet shop
• Hair cutter
• Phone store
• Martial arts studio
• Dance studio
• Wild bird store

What kind of stores do you think might move into these locations?

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Where to Get a Drink / Cocktail When At the Greater Phila Expo Center

If you are involved with a show or visiting the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center sooner or later you will need a meal and or a drink. The following bars, all serving food, are within four miles of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.

Starting with the closest and working out.

    

#1 The Water Tower

#2 The Perky

#3 Max & Erma's

#4 The Turf Club

#5 Garden Grill and Bar

#6 Buffalo Wild Wings

#7 Uno / Chicago Grill

#8 Alex's Tavern

#9 Audubon Ale House

#10 Chadwick's at Shannondell

#11 Chickie's & Pete's

#12 Fitzwater Station


#13 Bertucci's Italian Restaurant

#14 Applebee's

#15 LongHorn Steakhouse

#16 Valley Forge Beef and Ale
There was a fire at the Valley Forge Beef and Ale on Feb. 16. It will be closed until further notice

#17 Pickering Creek Inn

#18 P.F.Chang's China Bistro

#19 Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

#20 Champps Americana

#21 Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

#22 Movie Tavern

#23 The Pub at Wegman's

1. The Water Tower - an independently owned bar open 'til 2am - Part of the Arnold's Family Fun Center barely 100 yds from the Expo Center in the Marketplace at Oaks.
2. The Perky - an independently owned bar open 'til 2am - formally known as the Perkiomen Cafe. Located 0.7 miles from the Expo Center just outside the Marketplace at Oaks complex in Oaks at 400 Brower Avenue. 
3. Max and Erma's - a national restaurant franchise whose bar is open 'til around 11pm. Located 0.7 miles from the Expo Center at 180-B Mill Road in the Marketplace at Oaks complex.
4. Valley Forge Turf Club - an off track betting parlour that offers alcoholic beverages. Located 0.9 miles from the Expo Center at 600 Cresson Boulevard, visible from US 422.
5. Garden Grill and Bar in the Hilton Garden Inn - an international hotel franchise whose bar is open 'til around 11pm. Located 0.9 miles from the Expo Center at 500 Cresson Boulevard adjacent to the Valley Forge Turf Club. Also visible to US 422.
6. Buffalo Wild Wings - Opened 22 September 2014 -  a national restaurant franchise whose bar is open Mont-Wed 'til midnight, Thurs-Sat 'til 2am and Sunday 'til midnight. Located at the intersection of Egypt and Mill Roads, Oaks, PA. 1 mile from the Expo Center just off the US 422 Oaks exit.
7. Uno/Chicago Grill - Opened 16 December 2013 - a national restaurant franchise whose bar is open 'til 11pm Sunday, 1am Mon thru Thurs and 2am Fri and Sat. Located at the intersection of Egypt and Black Rock Roads, Oaks, PA. 1.1 miles from the Expo Center at the US 422 Oaks exit.
8. Alex's Tavern - an independently owned bar open 'til 2am. Located 1.6 miles from the Expo Center towards Phoenixville at 667 Egypt Road.
9. Audubon Ale House - an independently owned bar open 'til 2am. Located 2.4 miles from the Expo Center towards Norristown at 2819 Egypt Road in Audubon Village Shopping Center.
10. Chadwick's at Shannondell -an independently owned bar open 'til about 10pm. Located 2.7 miles from the Expo Center towards Norristown at 2750 Egypt Road.
11. Chickie' and Pete's - a small local chain of bars started in Philadelphia open 'til 2am. Located 3.6 miles from the Expo Center towards Norristown at 675 Shannondell Drive
12. Fitzwater Station - an independently owned bar open 'til 2am. Located 3.7 miles from the Expo Center beside the Schuylkill Canal at 264 Canal Street in Mont Clare
13. Bertucci's Italian Restaurant - a national restaurant chain whose bar is open 'til around 10pm. Located 3.8 miles from the Expo Center towards Norristown at 711 South Trooper Road.
14. Applebee's - an international restaurant franchise whose bar is open 'til around 11pm. Located 3.8 miles from the Expo Center towards Norristown at 555 South Trooper Road.
15. LongHorn Steakhouse - a national restaurant chain whose bar is open 'til around 10 pm. Located 3.8 miles from the Expo Center towards Norristown at 690 South Trooper Road.
16. Valley Forge Beef and Ale - an independently owned bar open 'til 2am. Located 3.9 miles from the Expo Center towards Norristown at 827 South Trooper Rd.
17. The Pickering Creek Inn - an independently owned bar open at 4pm 'til 2am. Also located 4 miles from the Expo Center at 37 East Bridge Street just over the Schuylkill River in downtown Phoenixville.
18. P. F. Chang's China Bistro - a national restaurant chain whose bar is open 'til about 10 pm. Located at the extreme edge of the four mile limit from the Expo Center on the way to Pottstown just off US 422 at 10 Town Center Drive in the Providence Town Center, Collegeville.
19. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant - a national restaurant chain whose bar is open 'til about 10pm. Located in the Providence Town Center at 1 Town Center Drive, Collegeville. 
20. Champps Americana -  a national restaurant chain whose bar is open 'til about 1am. Located in Providence Town Center at 51 Town Center Drive, Collegeville.
21. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill - a national restaurant chain whose bar is open 'til about 10pm. Located in Providence Town Center at 51 Town Center Drive, Collegeville.
22. Movie Tavern at Providence Town Center - a national chain of movie theaters that serve food while you watch a first run movie. It has a full service bar in the lobby that is open until about midnight. Located in Providence Town Center at 140 Market Street, Collegeville.
23. The Pub at Wegmans - a family owned US regional supermarket chain. It has a full service bar that closes at 9pm, 10pm Fri and Sat. Located in Providence Town Center at 600 Commerce Drive, Collegeville.

Links

Discover Phoenixville

Valley Forge Convention and Visitor Bureau

©Damyon T. Verbo -  all rights reserved