Former Turkey Hill on Millersville Pike in Lancaster Township Set to Reopen as Millersville Mart

A Turkey Hill convenience store located at 1349 Millersville Pike in Lancaster Township that closed this past summer is slated to reopen in January 2024 as an independent convenience store called Millersville Mart,

The 2,700-square-foot former Turkey Hill property was purchased in July 2022 for $751,000 by Hardik Patel who also owns and operates Columbia Mart at 890 Lancaster Ave. in Columbia. Patel plans to open Millersville Mart sometime during the second week of January.

The Turkey Hill at 1349 Millersville Pike first opened its doors in 1977 as one of the chain’s early barn-style buildings when Turkey Hill was still a locally owned company that also operated Turkey Hill Dairy. Turkey Hill stores are now owned by British company EG Group, while the Turkey Hill Dairy brand was acquired by Texas private equity firm Peak Rock Capital.

The Millersville Pike location was among three Turkey Hill stores in Lancaster County that closed over the summer of 2022, along with locations in East Petersburg and Neffsville.

What to Expect at Millersville Mart

According to Patel, Millersville Mart will be open daily from 6am to 10pm and carry a mix of products similar to his Columbia Mart store. Shoppers can expect to find typical convenience store inventory like:

• Groceries
• Coffee
• Lottery tickets
• Tobacco products
• Snacks and drinks
• Beer and wine
• Personal care items
• Automotive supplies
• ATM service

The store aims to meet the needs of nearby residents as well as commuters travelling along the busy Millersville Pike corridor connecting Lancaster and Millersville.

Converting Former Turkey Hill Locations

Patel has experience transforming former Turkey Hill stores into successful independent businesses. His Columbia Mart convenience store has been operating for over 10 years in a building that was originally a Turkey Hill.

With deep knowledge of the local market and convenience store operations, Patel likely recognized the potential to profitably run a store at 1349 Millersville Pike despite Turkey Hill’s decision to close.

Small business owners like Patel have found opportunity in leasing or purchasing abandoned Turkey Hill properties in prime locations. These entrepreneurs refresh the stores and infuse them withcommunity-focused service and specialty offerings tailored to local customer demand.

In addition to Millersville Mart, the former Turkey Hill store on Manor Street in Lancaster City was recently reopened as Neffsville Groceries by Jaswinder Singh. Similarly, the former Turkey Hill site on Lititz Pike was converted to Lititz Pike Market.

History of the Turkey Hill on Millersville Pike

The Turkey Hill Minit Market at 1349 Millersville Pike operated for over 40 years before closing in summer 2022.

For longtime Lancaster Township residents, it was a staple in the community and convenient stop for gas and essentials. Some may have even remembered getting ice cream there when Turkey Hill was in the dairy business.

The store was one of Turkey Hill’s early locations built in the company’s signature barn style. Turkey Hill was founded in Lancaster County in 1967 and quickly expanded in the area and throughout the state, becoming well known for its dairy, ice cream and convenience stores.

Many considered Turkey Hill stores a community fixture where locals regularly met up with familiar faces. That small town, welcoming appeal faded over the years as Turkey Hill changed ownership and evolved into a large chain with over 600 locations across the Mid-Atlantic region.

While the closure of the Millersville Pike store signaled the end of an era, Millersville Mart aims to bring back some of that nostalgia. Patel plans to operate the location as a neighborhood store tailored to meet the community’s needs.

Outlook for Millersville Mart

The reinvented convenience store will join a commercial district along Millersville Pike that includes restaurants, auto shops, offices and retailers.

Despite growing competition from larger convenience store brands like Turkey Hill, Rutter’s and Wawa, independent stores like Millersville Mart can thrive by providing specialized offerings and forging connections within the community.

Millersville Mart will fill a void left when Turkey Hill departed and give residents back a convenient place to pick up essentials. Drivers commuting between Lancaster and Millersville will also have a new option for grabbing coffee, snacks and gas along the way.

If Millersville Mart replicates the success of Patel’s Columbia Mart, it has the potential to become a trusted community store that provides great service and value for years to come.

The January 2024 opening of Millersville Mart is a hopeful story of small business revitalization. By transforming a shuttered chain location into an independent store tailored specifically to the neighborhood, Patel is breathing new life into 1349 Millersville Pike and confidence into Lancaster County’s local business community.