Hills Department Stores Snack Bar Being Revived As Food Truck

ALIQUIPPA, PA — The Hills discount department store chain has been nothing but a memory for more than two decades, but one man plans on reviving a significant part of its legacy - the famous snack bar.

Jason Powell of Aliquippa will launch a Hills-themed food truck in the spring that will bear the department store's logo feature the snack bar items that people still recall fondly, such as hot dogs, popcorn and pretzels.

Powell has received a positive reaction to his plan, which has rekindled fond recollections of the store.

"Everybody that I've ever talked to has nothing but great things and memories about Hills," he told WTAE-TV. "So to be able to bring that back to the community, it's heartwarming."

Hills was founded in Youngstown, Ohio, and operated until 1999 when it was acquired by rival chain Ames.

But the fact that Hills has been gone for so long hasn't diminished interest in the chain. The Remembering Hills Department Stores Facebook page has more than 14,000 members. Pictures of the snacks bar still circulate on Twitter:

Additionally, a variety of Hills memorabilia can be found online - including snack bar T-shirts.