(Jan. 5, 2017) Royal Farms in Berlin opened its doors on Dec. 29, offering its popular fried chicken to residents and visitors – and promising pedestrian safety for Stephen Decatur High School students who might be enticed to cross Route 50 for a quick meal.
Royal Farms’ newest location will be open 24 hours a day. Aside from selling gas, there is a separate diesel island for trucks and large vehicles and ethanol-free fuel offered in the rear of the store. The convenience store is 5,371 square feet.
“This store is bigger and better than ever,” Royal Farms Public Relations Representative Olivia Klock said. “Run by approximately 40 local employees, we will operate 27/7 with our regular menu, as well as expanded menu with tasty new offerings, including side dishes and our hand-pulled chicken sandwiches.”
Klock added that Royal Farms chose the spot across from the high school because it filled a gap between its other stores along Route 50 and helped the company enter the Berlin market.
The Berlin Planning Commission approved plans to move the Arby’s from its spot at Friendship Road and Route 50 to an adjacent parcel in 2015. The Town Council agreed to annex the new Arby’s location into Berlin shortly afterward, and construction began at the end of the year.
Last week, the Worcester County Commissioners supported the installation of a signalized crosswalk at Seahawk Drive and Route 50. The project will be done in stages. First, a crosswalk will be painted. In early spring, the State Highway Administration will modify the existing sidewalks to accommodate the crosswalk and install electronic signaling devices.
“That’s great that there will be a crosswalk. I’ve heard rumors that they’re going to build an overpass walkway,” Royal Farms manager Greg Fields said. “I have kids that go to the high school, so I understand the concerns. But it won’t be that big of a deal.”
Royal Farms is a one-stop shop for drivers, offering a place to fill up their tanks before leaving Ocean City and to buy some snacks and sodas for the road. The store also offers a menu that includes breakfast sandwiches, burgers, chicken sliders and subs. Their chicken meals top off the menu. As the convenience store was taking shape over the year, school officials and community members were concerned about its proximity near the school. Decatur Principal Tom Zimmer said that the main concern was that students who did not have a car would be encouraged to cross Route 50 after school.
SHA representatives were weighing installing the crosswalk, but worried that it would encourage students to walk across. But earlier this month, Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor wrote to the SHA claiming that schools should be proactive in pedestrian safety.
Commissioner Ted Elder last week said that he deals with traffic in that area every day as a school bus driver, and that intersection is “an accident waiting to happen.”
But area residents who attended the Royal Farms’ soft opening on Tuesday said that the critical matter would be pedestrians paying attention, not the crosswalk.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for the school. There’s already a guardrail up,” said Betty Majors who lives near Friendship Road.
“As long as the kids pay attention to the signal while crossing, they’ll be fine,” added her friend, Lisa Biasucci. “We’re glad they opened up here – we love their chicken.”
The Royal Farms was scheduled to have its grand opening on Dec. 19, but issues with connecting the sewer across Route 50 delayed its and the Arby’s re-opening. The Arby’s re-opened earlier this month next to Royal Farms.
Despite these setbacks and the soft opening’s slow start, Fields was optimistic about the convenience store’s success.
“I know that a lot of people support this store,” he said. “The hope is that this can be one of the better ones in the district.”
Royal Farms officially opened to the public on Dec. 29 around midnight. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be on Friday, Jan. 6 at 10 a.m.
Royal Farms’ newest location will be open 24 hours a day. Aside from selling gas, there is a separate diesel island for trucks and large vehicles and ethanol-free fuel offered in the rear of the store. The convenience store is 5,371 square feet.
“This store is bigger and better than ever,” Royal Farms Public Relations Representative Olivia Klock said. “Run by approximately 40 local employees, we will operate 27/7 with our regular menu, as well as expanded menu with tasty new offerings, including side dishes and our hand-pulled chicken sandwiches.”
Klock added that Royal Farms chose the spot across from the high school because it filled a gap between its other stores along Route 50 and helped the company enter the Berlin market.
The Berlin Planning Commission approved plans to move the Arby’s from its spot at Friendship Road and Route 50 to an adjacent parcel in 2015. The Town Council agreed to annex the new Arby’s location into Berlin shortly afterward, and construction began at the end of the year.
Last week, the Worcester County Commissioners supported the installation of a signalized crosswalk at Seahawk Drive and Route 50. The project will be done in stages. First, a crosswalk will be painted. In early spring, the State Highway Administration will modify the existing sidewalks to accommodate the crosswalk and install electronic signaling devices.
“That’s great that there will be a crosswalk. I’ve heard rumors that they’re going to build an overpass walkway,” Royal Farms manager Greg Fields said. “I have kids that go to the high school, so I understand the concerns. But it won’t be that big of a deal.”
Royal Farms is a one-stop shop for drivers, offering a place to fill up their tanks before leaving Ocean City and to buy some snacks and sodas for the road. The store also offers a menu that includes breakfast sandwiches, burgers, chicken sliders and subs. Their chicken meals top off the menu. As the convenience store was taking shape over the year, school officials and community members were concerned about its proximity near the school. Decatur Principal Tom Zimmer said that the main concern was that students who did not have a car would be encouraged to cross Route 50 after school.
SHA representatives were weighing installing the crosswalk, but worried that it would encourage students to walk across. But earlier this month, Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor wrote to the SHA claiming that schools should be proactive in pedestrian safety.
Commissioner Ted Elder last week said that he deals with traffic in that area every day as a school bus driver, and that intersection is “an accident waiting to happen.”
But area residents who attended the Royal Farms’ soft opening on Tuesday said that the critical matter would be pedestrians paying attention, not the crosswalk.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for the school. There’s already a guardrail up,” said Betty Majors who lives near Friendship Road.
“As long as the kids pay attention to the signal while crossing, they’ll be fine,” added her friend, Lisa Biasucci. “We’re glad they opened up here – we love their chicken.”
The Royal Farms was scheduled to have its grand opening on Dec. 19, but issues with connecting the sewer across Route 50 delayed its and the Arby’s re-opening. The Arby’s re-opened earlier this month next to Royal Farms.
Despite these setbacks and the soft opening’s slow start, Fields was optimistic about the convenience store’s success.
“I know that a lot of people support this store,” he said. “The hope is that this can be one of the better ones in the district.”
Royal Farms officially opened to the public on Dec. 29 around midnight. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be on Friday, Jan. 6 at 10 a.m.