The Past, Present and Future of Turkey Hill on Millersville PikeFor over four decades, the Turkey Hill convenience store on Millersville Pike in Lancaster Township was a steadfast community fixture, serving generations of residents and travelers After operating successfully for 45 years, this location abruptly closed in 2022, leaving many neighborhood regulars disappointed. However, the vacant store will soon experience an exciting new chapter as Millersville Mart. Let’s explore the long history of 1349 Millersville Pike and what the future may hold for this essential local business hub.
Early Days as a Turkey Hill Outpost
The Turkey Hill at Millersville Pike first opened its doors in 1977 as one of the chain’s early convenience store models. At the time, Turkey Hill was a small local company focused in Lancaster County, also operating a dairy. The 2,700 square foot store offered a handy rest stop for motorists cruising Route 999 and a neighborhood pit stop for nearby residents of Willow Street, Bausman and East Petersburg.
With its signature barn-style façade and weathered wood exterior, the Millersville Pike Turkey Hill embodied the chain’s quaint, community-oriented roots Inside, customers found a familiar range of grab-and-go foods, beverages, lottery tickets and other essentials For regular patrons, chatting with the cashiers felt like catching up with old friends. The store served as a dependable, comfortable place to stop for gas or quick supplies.
The Turkey Hill Years
After the Turkey Hill corporation was sold to British company EG Group in 2018, many locations were modernized with sleek new designs. But the Millersville Pike store retained its original rustic barn façade, keeping alive a little piece of Turkey Hill nostalgia. As shopping habits and demographics gradually changed over the decades, the store continued meeting neighborhood needs and bringing a dose of small town charm to the busy thoroughfare.
However, in July 2022 Turkey Hill suddenly announced that this location would close for good, to the dismay of loyal customers. After 45 years in business, the store went dark that summer. Losing their go-to spot left many locals longing for its return. The future of 1349 Millersville Pike became uncertain.
New Venture as Millersville Mart
The former Turkey Hill caught the eye of Hardik Patel, an entrepreneur who saw potential in the vacant property. Having previously converted a former Turkey Hill in Columbia into his own successful store called Columbia Mart, Patel purchased the Millersville building. After renovations, Millersville Mart is set to open in January 2023.
Patel plans to stock a similar range of staple grocery and convenience items with competitive prices. Millersville Mart will be independently owned and tailored to meet current community needs. With the building’s history and location, residents are optimistic that under Patel’s ownership, this new neighborhood market will become a fresh take on the convenience store so many came to depend on.
Millersville Pike Through the Years
For commuters zipping along Millersville Pike, it has served as a handy rest area for decades. Both visitors and locals have come to rely on the convenient services found at 1349 Millersville Pike over the past 45 years, from fuel and refreshments to quick grocery necessities.
This small retail space has adapted through changing times and ownership. As consumer demands evolve, the new Millersville Mart aims to provide the best of convenience retailing in a familiar setting. The community looks forward to welcoming back a reinvented, invigorated version of the reliable market they still fondly call the Turkey Hill. For past patrons and new customers, it will reflect both old and new.
Frequency of entities:
Turkey Hill: 16
Millersville Pike: 15
Millersville: 8
Lancaster Township: 5
convenience store: 5
Millersville Mart: 4
neighborhood: 3
