Dwight Zimmerman, and spouse Kathi, owners of The Pretzel Hut in Lancaster County, bought Heisler’s Cloverleaf Dairy in Lewistown Valley on Feb. 17 2026. (RON DEVLIN/STAFF PHOTO)
Several new business endeavors in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties are focusing on health and wellness.
Wright Center expanding footprint in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre
The Wright Center for Community Health plans to start a $4.1 million project to construct a health center in North Scranton to replace its existing one on North Main Avenue.
Plans for the new health clinic call for demolishing a building at 1727-1729 N. Main Ave. and building a new structure there — next to the Wright Center for Community Health North Scranton health center at 1721 N. Main Ave., which opened in July 2023 — and then razing the 1721 building after completion of the new building, according to a statement issued at a recent city zoning meeting by Dr. Jignesh Y. Sheth, senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer.
The health care organization plans to use a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant of $984,585 to fund part of the project, which has a groundbreaking planned for spring and a completion date of fall/winter 2026, weather permitting, Sheth said.
“The Wright Center will continue serving patients at the existing building while construction is underway next door,” Sheth said.
In Wilkes-Barre, The Wright Center opened a new pharmacy in mid March followed by the addition of a HNL Lab, which opened at the center at the end of the month.
The 1,400-square-foot pharmacy, located at 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Operations will be led by pharmacist Sarah Mucciolo, with support from pharmacists Brianna Galvin and Michael Mucciolo. Most common prescriptions can be filled while customers wait, while some specialty medications may require 24 hours notice. Services will be available to Wright Center patients as well as the general public.
“The opening of our Wilkes-Barre pharmacy reflects The Wright Center’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to the health services our communities need and deserve,” Sheth said. “Several pharmacies around the region have closed over the past few years, so we’re excited to offer this service to our communities, whether they are Wright Center patients or obtain medical care elsewhere.”
Plans call for the Wilkes-Barre pharmacy to also deliver patient prescriptions to Wright Center locations in Lackawanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. Patients will eventually be able to pick up prescriptions at whichever community health center is most convenient for them.
The pharmacy will operate alongside a new 1,400-square-foot laboratory operated by HNL Lab Medicine for routine testing, further enhancing the services available at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre. Together, the pharmacy and laboratory will help reduce barriers to care for patients who might otherwise struggle to access these resources, Sheth said.
This marks the third HNL Lab Medicine patient service center located within a Wright Center community health center, joining sites at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, and The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave.
Rising Stars youth training and physical therapy center opening in Wilkes-Barre
Rising Stars Youth Training Inc. has received zoning approval to open in the former Rite Aid on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre.
Marques Cooley and John Underwood, brothers and the heads of Rising Stars, said the 501c(3) nonprofit personal-training and physical-therapy studio would provide children and adults with injury-prevention training, as well as physical therapy and orthopedic therapy. The center, which is to be outfitted with fitness and training equipment and turf, will evaluate members and provide them individualized workout and recovery plans. A physical therapist will be on site to guide people with their training, as will be an orthopedic physician.
Cooley, 42, said he was inspired to launch the Rising Stars by a knee injury he suffered while attending Meyers High School, where he played football and participated in track and field.
“I just wanted to help people with that early injury … help them get over that or help them get through it,” Cooley said.
He said the center would seek to work with local school districts such as Wilkes-Barre Area, where Underwood, 50, has children enrolled, and Wyoming Valley West, where Cooley is the defensive coordinator for the junior high school Spartans football team.
Benny’s opens in downtown Scranton
Benny’s picked the right time to open a new location in downtown Scranton as the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Parade and March Madness led to high traffic in its opening weeks.
The restaurant, which opened its fourth location on March 8 in the former Kildare’s Irish Pub/Railyard Restaurant & Bar property, 119 Jefferson Ave., was founded in Blakely in 2016, at 1216 Main St., and expanded to 916 Northern Blvd. in South Abington Twp. in July 2023 and to the Green Ridge section of Scranton in March 2024 at the former location of Morgan’z Pub & Eatery, 315 Green Ridge St. The newest downtown location has been a great success so far.
“Parade day was a complete success. We sold over 3,000 wristbands — that’s how many people were on the property. The college kids have been coming in and out and a lot of our regulars from our other locations have been coming out to check the new place out,” said Manager Brandy Ortiz. “March Madness has been a huge success. We’ve been busy from that.”
Corey Bayo and Brendon O’Malley are co-owners of Benny’s.
Alter Bar offers farm fresh options in Scranton
The Alter Bar, which opened March 17, occupies a 2,500-square-foot space on the first floor of 116 N. Washington Ave. in downtown Scranton, behind the Empanada King eatery with an entrance from the Center Street alley. The farm-to-table establishment operated by Elisha and Patrick Nolan is a second location for the pair, which also owns the Alter House in South Abington Twp.
The Nolans were excited to be part of a downtown that is on the rise.
“There’s a real energy building downtown right now. People are going out, they’re exploring, and they’re ready for something that feels elevated,” Elisha said.
She was quick to add that an elevated experience isn’t meant to be intimidating, rather it is just a focus on quality.
“Alter Bar brings a level of attention to both food and cocktails that you don’t always find in a casual night out,” she said. “Every drink is crafted, every detail matters, and the food is designed to be shared, experienced and talked about. We’re trying to be the place you remember.”
Raising Cane’s plans W-B Twp. location
Raising Cane’s is rising in Wilkes-Barre Twp.
The rapidly growing chicken finger chain plans to open a restaurant in a new business strip on Mundy Street, dubbed “The Spot on Mundy,” located between the Orloski’s Car Wash and Lube Shop and the Olive Garden and Outback Steakhouse restaurants. The 3-400-square-foot store will include a drive-thru.
The restaurant chain, which launched in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1996, is named after the founder’s yellow Labrador Retriever, a breed that continues to be the company’s mascot.
The restaurant’s menu is intentionally limited to chicken fingers with a special dipping sauce, French fries, Texas toast and coleslaw.
There are approximately 1,000 Raising Cane’s locations in the United States and 17 in Pennsylvania, including one in Allentown.
The Wilkes-Barre Twp. location should be open by early 2027.
Philly Pretzel Factory opens in Laurel Mall
Philly Pretzel Factory, a counter-serve chain that specializes in pretzels, dips and pretzel party trays, held its grand opening in the Laurel Mall in Hazleton on March 20 and celebrated with a free pretzel for everyone who stopped by that week.
Lisa Stetz, a lifelong resident of Hazleton, owns the location.
Philly Pretzel Factory has 80 locations across Pennsylvania, including one on the Scranton Carbondale Highway in Dickson City.
Coffee Inclusive continues growth with Inclusive Grounds
Coffee Inclusive continues to grow with announcement of its latest endeavor — Inclusive Grounds.
Coffee Inclusive, which opened in 2023 and is operated by a staff with diverse abilities, expanded with Bakery Inclusive in 2025 and now will operate Inclusive Grounds, a coffee roasting company designed to further expand inclusive employment opportunities in the region.
At the announcement, which was made at the one-year anniversary celebration of the opening of Bakery Inclusive in March, Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo said, “By creating meaningful employment opportunities and empowering individuals of all abilities to participate in our local workforce, Coffee Inclusive has strengthened not only our downtown economy, but the very fabric of our community.”
Heisler’s Cloverleaf Dairy under new ownership
Heisler’s Cloverleaf Dairy, a Schuylkill County agricultural and recreational landmark in the rolling fields of Walker Twp. founded by Morris and Pearl Heisler in 1924, is now under the ownership of Dwight and Kathi Zimmerman after 102 years in the Heisler family.
But the Zimmermans aren’t new to operating a business or to the Heisler brand. They opened The Pretzel Hut in Newmanstown in 2024, offering handmade soft pretzels and selling Heisler’s ice cream. The 45-seat restaurant also features a petting zoo, which includes a menagerie of goats, chickens, peacocks and other farm animals.
Heisler’s Cloverleaf Dairy and adjoining Heisler’s Dairy Bar, built in 1957, has drawn generations for miniature golf, a driving range, arcade, comfort food and, above all, 33 flavors of ice cream made on the premises. For the last 44 years, the business was operated by Ann and the late Leonard W. Ostergaard, Morris Heisler’s nephew.
Dwight said they are committed to maintaining the down-home philosophy laid down by Morris Heisler and continued by the Ostergaards — giving people a quality product at a decent price with a friendly smile.
The new owners have begun adding additional outdoor seating and landscaping at the dairy bar. Dwight also envisions expanding the footprint of off-premises sales of Heisler’s Ice Cream. They also are adding menu items, including, of course, The Pretzel Hut’s signature soft pretzels.
“Heisler’s has a long legacy that’s woven into the community,” Dwight said. “It’s an honor to take over something like this and grow it in a way that honors its history.”
Suraci’s Wilkes-Barre closes inside Clubhouse 315
Suraci’s Wilkes-Barre, located at Clubhouse 315 inside the former Sunshine Market at 1492 state Route 315 in Plains Twp., closed at the end of February.
“With a heavy heart, we share that Suraci’s Wilkes-Barre has officially closed its doors,” restaurant owners said in a Facebook post. “This chapter may be coming to an end but we are beyond grateful for every customer who walked through our doors, shared a meal, celebrated milestones, and supported us from beginning to end.”
Clubhouse 315, a golf and entertainment venue offering golf simulators, putting greens and other features, welcomed Suraci’s when it opened in May 2024.
Suraci’s, which specializes in homemade soups, hoagies and daily specials, still has a location open at 1262 Wyoming Ave., in Forty Fort.
