BY DENISE ALLABAUGH, STAFF WRITER
Published: January 15, 2015

Five Guys, a popular burger chain, soon will open in Wilkes-Barre Township.

It will be located next to Chipotle Mexican Grill and Vitamin Shoppe at 280 Mundy St. in the building that formerly housed Ground Round, according to the property’s owner Robert Tamburro, president and general partner of Mundy Street Square L.P.

Five Guys, a fast casual restaurant chain featuring hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and French fries, opened its first location in Arlington, Va. in 1986 and expanded to more than 1,000 locations in 47 states and six Canadian provinces, according to its website.

This will be the seventh location for local franchise owner Negvest LP.

In addition to the new Five Guys in Wilkes-Barre Township, Negvest owns locations in the Siniawa Plaza in Dickson City as well as East Stroudsburg, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and Flemington, N.J., said Jamie Danko, chief operating officer. Negvest LP has offices in Scranton and the Poconos.

Danko expects the new Five Guys will open in mid-March. Tamburro said Vitamin Shoppe should be the first to open in February and Chipotle will open in the first or second quarter this year.

Wilkes-Barre Township Zoning Officer Tom Zedolik said he received drawings for Five Guys to be reviewed and a permit will be issued.

Danko said a number of Wilkes-Barre area residents come to the Five Guys in Dickson City and East Stroudsburg and have asked when it is coming to the area. They have been trying for 10 years to open a Five Guys in the area and Tamburro came up with a great spot, he said.

“We are just absolutely thrilled,” Danko said. “We’re really excited.”

Chipotle Mexican Grill and Vitamin Shoppe were the first to sign leases to open in the building. About 4,600 square feet remain available to be leased, Tamburro said. A prospective tenant expressed interest in the entire space, but has not yet signed a lease, he said.

Several other restaurant chains also have opened nearby in Wilkes-Barre and Plains townships including Dickey’s Barbecue Pit on Route 315 and Longhorn Steakhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Jersey Mike’s Subs in the Bear Creek Commons in Wilkes-Barre Township.

John Longstreet, president and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, said there has been growth in fast causal restaurants, where people can spend less money and it takes less time to be served.

Tamburro said Five Guys has been a popular concept and the chain continues to grow.

“Their burgers have gotten a lot of rave reviews from different organizations,” Tamburro said. “It’s exciting. I think it’s going to enhance the Mundy Street retail corridor. I think it’s a great location. It’s centrally located and we feel fortunate to be doing business with them.”

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The Times Leader
BY STEVE MOCARSKY
Published: Feb 4, 2016

PLAINS TWP. — As rumors circulate about which new retail store or stores might open at the site of the former Valley Crest Nursing Home, the new property owner says it’s too early in the process to name tenants.

“We’ve had some discussions (with possible retail tenants) but everything’s been preliminary,” Robert Tamburro, of Tamburro R.E. Development and Management LLC, said on Thursday.

“These projects are marathons; they’re not sprints. We’re in the marathon now and we’re optimistic and excited and grateful for the opportunity,” Tamburro said.

County officials transferred the operation of the nursing home to a private entity — Complete HealthCare — in December 2005 because its declining occupancy rates and uncontrolled expenses became a drain on county finances.

County officials had been trying to sell Valley Crest since the private operator relocated to its new Timber Ridge Health Care Center nearby in early 2010.

Tamburro R.E. Development and Management LLC entered into an agreement with Luzerne County last March to purchase the 62.3-acre property off state Route 315 for $2.075 million. The property transferred hands in December, and Tamburro plans to demolish the nursing home to make way for a new residential and commercial project.

“The first order of business is to demolish the existing structure and series of structures. We have some abatement to do related to asbestos on the site,” Tamburro said.

If all goes as planned, demolition should take place this summer, he said.

Another order of business is securing “proper access” to the site off state Route 315, which Tamburro described as a “complex task” given that the current access road is about half-way between the convergence of Mundy Street with Kidder Street and the intersection of state routes 309 and 315.

Tamburro said he’s been in discussions with officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the nearby Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center as well as local government officials on the access issue.

“As far as the future goes, we’re in the process of bringing some leasing agents on board,” Tamburro said. “As for specific tenants, there is nothing definite at this time.”

First Posted on TimesLeader.com: 8:57 pm – June 12th, 2015
Original article here.

WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Carter’s Babies and Kids plus OshKosh B’gosh will slide into a shared retail space created by a downsized Staples in the Arena Hub.

Robert Tamburro, trustee and general partner of TFP Limited Development, owner of the Arena Hub, confirmed Thursday the children’s retailer will be added to the Mundy Street shopping plaza.

Carter’s and its subsidiary OshKosh B’gosh will occupy the space created when Staples’ reduced its floor plan.

The office supply chain’s plan to streamline its retail operations announced last year, included closing 225 stores in the United States and Canada and reducing the size of nearly 40 stores.

Staples, a 15-year tenant of the Arena Hub, formerly occupied about 24,000 square feet, Tamburro said. Work began earlier this year to reduce Staples to nearly 15,000 square feet, he said.

Jennifer Donahue, assistant manager for Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh, said the company was interested in establishing a store in the region “for a long time.” The next closest locations are in Moosic and Tannersville.

“This is a big shopping district,” she said.

Donahue said they planned to hire between 23 and 30 employees.

Carter’s Babies and Kids and OshKosh B’gosh are slated to hold a soft opening from 5 to 9 p.m. June 17.

The store will open June 18 and assume regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Tamburro’s father, Robert Tamburro Sr. established the Arena Hub in the late 1990s. His goal was to create a destination shopping experience.

“Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh clearly fit in with that vision,” Tamburro said. “We are excited to have them.”

The Arena Hub also features Lowe’s Improvement Warehouse, Ulta, Five Below, Michaels, Dick’s Sporting Goods, TJ Maxx, Best Buy, Shoe Dept., Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Petsmart, Barnes & Noble, Eddie Bauer Outlet, Men’s Wearhouse, Avenue, Sleepy’s, Pier 1 Imports, Olive Garden, and Outback Steakhouse.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit makes mouths water in Plains Township

EILEEN GODIN
Published: November 20, 2014
Times Leader

Opening the doors at 11 a.m., Mamary found a line of people waiting eagerly to enter his Texas-based franchise located in the newly developed 315 Marketplace off Route 315, in Plains Township.

By 2 p.m. his staff served nearly 200 guests. On Wednesday during a soft opening event, he said they served 150.

“We have had a wonderful grand opening,” he said.

With fresh meats marinated for 24 hours and then smoked in-house for 14-hours at 225-degrees, sweet aromas of smoked meats filled the air, making mouths water instantly.

If the draw of fresh smoked pork, brisket, sausage and more with fresh side dishes were not enough, the franchise sweetened the deal by providing the first 50 guests gift cards worth up to $50.

The grand opening celebration will extend into the weekend.

Today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. customers will be offered $2 pulled pork barbecue sandwiches. One guest will win a $500 gift card and three guests will receive a free barbecue for an entire year. Plus 98.5 KRZ will be broadcasting on site.

Saturday, there will be all-day merchandise giveaways.

Mamary noted the eatery also provides catering and delivery within a 10-mile radius. Coming soon, Mamary plans to offer wine and beer once the liquor license is issued.

With a passion for people and cooking, the former 33-year sales veteran with Yellow Book, was all smiles as he watched people enjoy a robust menu centered around in house smoked meats, fresh sides including baked potatoes.

“This is my dream job,” Mamary said.

Planning ahead, Mamary knew he wanted to retire, but also wanted to have a business of his own. He began to look for a business model he could combine his passions for people and cooking.

“I looked for three years for a franchise,” he said.

He said he tried Dickey’s menu once before and enjoyed it. Then he attended a VIP event at a new Dickey’s Barbecue Pit with his wife, Linda, who is a member of the Chamber of Commerce for Monroe County.

He was hooked.

“Three weeks later I opened a franchise,” he said.

Mamary, formerly of South Wilkes-Barre, talked with close friend and commercial developer Robert Tamburro. Tamburro owns the 315 Marketplace, there were no worries of where he would establish his new restaurant.

“The Route 315 corridor is growing,” Mamary said.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is the 10th franchise in the state. The next closest three are located in Allentown, Bethlehem and East Stroudsburg.

Planning to take his time and grow slowly, Mamary has his eyes set on opening a second location in Scranton.