Oaks Construction - First Week of February

The rate of construction in Oaks, PA has increased in the first week of February. 

There is work being done at the SE corner of the Oaks Shopping Center site. 

Earth moving at the Chicago Grill / Pizzeria Uno site.

As well as at the eastbound exit of US 422.

There is quite a bit of activity near the western end of the Oaks Shopping Center site, at the intersection with Mill Road.

A grader and bulldozer with GPS units at each end of its blade are digging down below the street level.

Lots of earth is being moved. More than a half dozen pieces of equipment are doing the moving.

More drainage pipes have been buried under gravel.

The weather has been cooperative.

 No deep freezes.

 Very little precipitation.

 No storms or high winds.

Before you know it you will be able to smell the Wawa coffee at Egypt and Black Rock Roads.

©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

Oaks Shopping Center Site Dusted with Snow

Early Friday morning on the first day of February, the Oaks Shopping Center construction site was lightly dusted with snow.

The snow had little effect on the actual construction work. The storm sewer work continued.

Across Black Rock Road was the Chicago Grill / Pizzeria Uno site.

Infrastructure is also the focus of work on that site. 

With the sun being so bright, I dont' think the snow dusting will be around very long. 

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Shopping Center 30 January 2013

I stopped by the construction site on Egypt and Mill Rds today to check on the progress.  

That pile of wood was the Oaks Gardens building that was still standing on New Years Day 2013.


There was work being done on the infrastructure. Today it was the sewer and or storm drains.

One worker was remotely operating a small articulated roller. Packing down soil that had been returned to the trench above some pipe that was buried earlier. Using the remote is like using a game controller with two joysticks.

When I was still working in the outdoor advertising industry, I used such a remote to operate a 130' extendable truck mounted crane. After operating the crane from the bed of the truck for over twenty years, it took some practice to operate from the business end of the load line.

Back to the construction site. Earth was moving from place to place.

Digging was being done by both a large excavator and a small shovel.

Other parts of the site has been scraped of vegetation. 

There is a huge change in the site from the end of 2012. Taking the project as a whole however, there is a great deal to be done before the expected opening of the Oaks Shopping Center in the fall of 2013.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Progress Marches On in Oaks, PA

Progress at the two building sites in Oaks, PA is marching along.

The Chicago Grill site has a level pad and a berm near the cemetery wall at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. 

There is pipe on site that will undoubtably be buried as part of the infrastructure.

Concrete sewer castings are waiting to be placed.

The larger site across Black Rock Road also has signs of progress.

The Oaks Gardens building has been ravaged.

 A broken shell.


The lot has been defoliated, partially graded and rolled. It looks large. Much larger than before the work began. 


To defoliate, whole trees were eaten in one shot by an enormous piece of equipment.


There are graders, rollers, excavators, back hoes, dozers and other heavy construction behemoths on site waiting for their shot at progress.









The train tracks that ran along the western edge of the site were ripped out along with the trees on that grew alongside. 


Houses are now clearly visible along that edge of the site. I am guessing that the owners of those houses have a new clear view of the site, also.

Progress marches on.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Gardens Gone - The Face of Oaks Is Changing

Oaks Gardens, the garden market at the intersection of Egypt and Mill Roads, has closed their doors forever. As of the first day of January 2013 their lease expired. 

On Wednesday 2 January 2013 the final remaining items were being gleaned by the owners. 

Source - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Limerick-Gift-and-Garden/314524315320821

Everything being moved to thier new location at +Limerick Gift and Garden, in Limerick, PA.

The buildings that once cast shade upon the tuberous begonias and impatiens stood bare, mere structures without flesh, without a heartbeat.

A few pieces of pottery were still to be collected for the move.

Not far away slept freezing behemoth brooms soon to sweep the floor clean. A new year and a new beginning for this old patch of earth.

It is rumored in the spring, from this earth will sprout a crop of commercial properties that will include a bank, +Wawa, +Wendy's, +Buffalo Hot Wings, a drug store and several other stores yet to find lessees.

The complex will extend to Black Rock Road where there is already construction in progress on a +Chicago Grill and possibly a Chili's.

Speaking of eateries, there is a already a new bar at +Arnold's Family Fun Center, called +The Water Tower. I expect to wander over there real soon. +Cheeburger, Cheeburger is opening later this month in the once Dolce Restaurant location behind Max and Erma's famous for their own hamburgers. There is also a rumor of a Golden Corral to open within walking distance of the +Expo Center.

I guess all the food groups will be covered soon - hamburgers, beer, pizza, beer, cheeseburgers, wings, beer, sushi, hot dogs, hot peppers, beer, soft serve, liquor and chocolate fountain.

Even with all the eatery choices I still see room for an Asian buffet, Indian tandoori, Korean bar-b-que, Irish pub, Brazilian grill, Medieval feast and tournament, Roman food orgy and an all night steak sandwich window service.

The face of Oaks, PA is ever changing. I can only wait and hope.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved