Restaurants, Stores To Be Built Near Oxford Valley Mall

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA —Township supervisors have approved plans for development around the Oxford Valley Mall that would fill the void of the empty Bally's fitness center.

In a unanimous vote at its meeting Monday night, supervisors gave preliminary and final land development approval with conditions on 627 Old Lincoln Highway at the entrance of the mall.

Tenants would include two restaurants and two retail shops. Construction is expected next year.

Plans call for 5,920 square feet of retail space and a neighboring 5,600-square-foot restaurant in the area where the former gym once stood.

Three buildings would be constructed at the site of the former Bally Total Fitness on Middletown Boulevard and a connected parking lot off East Lincoln Highway near the two-story shopping mall near Langhorne.

Developers proposed to supervisors that only one of the restaurants would have a drive-thru lane.

Resident Andy Warren inquired to the board and developers what is "the definition of a restaurant?"

"Do you envision it being a McDonald's type or a Ruth Chris steakhouse?" he asked.

Supervisors asked questions during the presentation about access, parking and landscaping.

"We as a board, in revitalizing the mall, want to ensure that it flows," Supervisor Dana Kane said.

Developers would not state what type of tenants might be coming but said that multiple tenants have expressed interest in the property that runs along the Route 1 corridor.

After hearing a presentation, supervisors also gave the green light for a drive-thru for the Dunkin' location at Maple Avenue and Old Lincoln Highway.