Development Bonanza: Plans Move Forward Juniper Grill, Red Lobster, Home2 Hilton Suites in Cranberry

Red Lobster officially is on its way in Cranberry.

At Tuesday’s Cranberry Board of Supervisors meeting, officials gave final approval to the seafood chain, which will replace the King’s Family Restaurant on Route 19 in the Cranberry Mall.

Also getting the green light were plans a four-story Home2 Suites By Hilton to be located at The Summit of Cranberry Woods along Route 228 near the Westinghouse headquarters.

Red Lobster

Owned by GMR Restaurants of Pennsylvania LLC—a subsidiary of Darden Restaurants, Inc.—the Red Lobster will be about 5,880 square foot and seat 220 people. The restaurant will employee about 100 workers.

Under the plans, the King’s restaurant will be torn down. The new Red Lobster would be built from the ground up in its place.

For now, the King’s restaurant remains open. Attorney Mark Kozar has said construction for the new restaurant could begin by January. The proposed opening date for Red Lobster is July 2013.

Home2 Suites by Hilton

Described on the Hilton website as a “hip, extended stay hotel experience,” the Home2 Suites by Hilton will be located just below the Westinghouse Electric Company headquarters at the intersection of Longtree Way and Cranberry Woods Drive.

Creative Real Estate Development in Cranberry is the developer for the project. As part of the approval, the company has agreed to contribute $20,000 to minimize the impact traffic from the hotel will have on Route 228.

The hotel also will feature sidewalks connecting to the Cranberry Woods trail system and other streetscape enhancements.

Developer Don Rodgers Jr., said he hopes to start construction on the hotel by March 1. There is not yet a targeted opening date for the establishment, he said.

Like the Hilton Garden Inn that opened just up the road at the corner of Franklin Road and Longtree Way in Cranberry in May, the 46,604 square-foot Home2 Suites will be operated by Vista Host, Inc. 

Rodgers Jr., has said the four-story, 79-room hotel would feature all suites, with a small breakfast area in each room. There would be no restaurants or bars inside the hotel.

Juniper Grill

Supervisors also approved an inter-muncipal liquor license transfer for the Juniper Grill restaurant proposed for the Cranberry Crossroads shopping center.

Owned by Restaurant Holdings Inc., which also operates the Atria’s restaurants in the region and the Mike Ditka’s restaurant in Chicago and in Robinson Township, Juniper Grill also has a location in Peters Township.

According to developers, Juniper Grill serves American cuisine with a southwest flair in a cozy, modern environment. The restaurant also features margaritas, sipping tequilas, craft beers and an extensive wine list.

Kozar, who also represents Restaurant Holdings Inc., said the new Juniper Grill would have interior seating for 102 people in 5,600 square feet of space. An additional 50 people will be able to be seated in an outdoor patio.

The restaurant, which will be located on the opposite end of the same building that will will employ about 65 full and part time people, he said.

Nick Koustis, director of conceptual development for Restaurant Holdings Inc., said construction could begin on the space within the next few weeks. The hope is to have Juniper Grill open by the end of March, he said.

“It’s going to be great,” he said of opening a location in Cranberry. “We feel it’s the perfect demographic for us.”

He added Juniper Grill is more “unique” than other fast casual restaurants in Cranberry. The restaurant also recently was awarded the “Best Burger” nod in the Peter’s Patch Readers’ Choice awards.

“We feel we’re going to fill a niche here,” Koustis said.

Cadence, Inc.

Supervisors also approved plans for Cadence, Inc., a manufacturer of surgical devices, specialty blades and needles.

The company will occupy 21,000 square feet of a 105,000 square foot building in the Cranberry Business Park. No changes will be made to the exterior of the building. The company’s Cranberry operations are expected to eventually create up to 60 high-tech jobs

Tell us, are you excited for the new developments in Cranberry? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!