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Quaker Steak to expand in Boardman
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
The location of the new Quaker Steak and Lube at the The Shops at Boardman Park.
BOARDMAN
A restaurant chain known for its wings and memorabilia is moving to a new location in the township.
Quaker Steak & Lube will move from 7530 Market St. to 435 Boardman- Poland Road, the former Boston Market restaurant at Shops at Boardman Park, said Shannon Baker, a public-relations representative for Quaker Steak.
Quaker Steak & Lube is a family-oriented casual dining restaurant with a “Motorabilia”-theme atmosphere featuring race cars, motorcycles, Corvettes and gas-station memorabilia. The company was founded in 1974 and is based in Sharon, Pa.
The new restaurant is slated to open at the end of summer, Baker said.
The Market Street location “is doing well, but the new location is in a bigger footprint to get more guests in, and it will get closer to more of our traditional store model as opposed to an express location,” she added.
The Market Street Quaker Steak & Lube is an express location with carry-out, and the new location will have space for dining in, a retail store and a liquor license for a full bar. Alcohol represented about 21 percent of sales in 2010, according to a company fact sheet.
“It won’t look identical to Austintown [Quaker Steak] but very similar,” Baker said.
The new restaurant will create 120 jobs, although some will be filled by employees transferring from the Market Street location, she said.
The Boardman expansion is part of Quaker Steak & Lube’s growth. The restaurant is set to open in more than 20 new locations this year, including an expansion that will bring 16 new locations to the New York and New England region over the next five years, Baker said. Currently, there are more than 40 locations in 14 states and Canada — 33 are franchised and 10 are company-owned.
“We’ve received an overwhelming response. We’re riding a high tide right now,” Baker said. “...People have a blast coming to the Lube. They can come, kick back and be rowdy, but also have great food and drinks.”
Boardman Township trustees are pleased that the company is keeping a location in the township.
“We welcome their expansion and growth in Boardman, and we’re glad that they’re staying here,” said Trustee Chairman Thomas Costello.