What's Cooking: Local community getting a second Sheetz; Aliquippa coffeeshop adds lunches

(What's Cooking is a twice-a-month look at what's new in the regional dining & drinks scenes.)

Sheetz will build a second store along University Boulevard in Moon Township.

New signs indicate the Sheetz would be near the intersection with Stoops Ferry Road (Route 51), where the former Moon Flight Car and Dog Wash was located.

Nick Ruffner, public relations manager for Sheetz, confirmed the Altoona-based convenience store chain is building a new store along University Boulevard near Coraopolis.

"Sheetz is excited to be offering our loyal customers in Moon Township a new store, which will include a restaurant-style experience with self-service kiosks and seating both inside and outside the store," Ruffner said. "The store, which will be nearly 5,000-square feet and will include 12 fuel terminals, is tentatively scheduled to open to the public later this summer."

It would be a convenient stop for Beaver Valley residents taking Route 51 toward the Sewickley Bridge or downtown Coraopolis.

Sheetz already operates a location three miles southwest of there, at 9002 University Blvd., next to the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh Airport.

One of America's fastest-growing family-owned and operated convenience store chains with more than 25,000 employees, Sheetz operates over 700 stores throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.

Two months ago, Sheetz reopened a totally rebuilt store off Route 65 in Baden that now offers a drive-through window and more distinctive interior ordering area for customers selecting Made To Order (M•T•O) sandwiches and salads. After completing their order at touch-screen terminals, customers can follow along on a larger, elevated video screen to see when their order has been completed, wrapped and bagged by Sheetz employees.

Sheetz also confirmed last year that one of its next new stores will be built along Route 68 in Vanport Township.

Uncommon-ly good in Aliquippa

On Jan. 31, Uncommon Grounds Cafe in Aliquippa brought back its lunch menu, featuring soup & sandwich combo meals including items like creamy potato soup, BLTs and steak sandwiches.

"Don't worry. If you have come to love breakfast all day, we're still going to offer our breakfast menu 'til 2 p.m.," the cafe's Facebook page said. "But we're going to start rolling out some lunch options and experimenting on how to get the best food for folks."

In its February newsletter to supporters, the ministry-minded cafe, at 380 Franklin Ave., touted plans for a busy 2024 including:

*Updating and relaunching Philosophy of Ministry Training sessions starting Feb. 17, while developing more training to offer to volunteers at the cafe, churches, ministries and other interested organizations.

*Launched a Black History Month line-up with two commemorative and celebratory events and daily Facebook posts highlighting Black historical figures.

*Plans to expand the cafe's Spring Street Garden providing the community with locally grown produce.

* Operating a Recovery Ministry and developing relationships with local recovery organizations and community members currently in recovery.

*Re-establishing a jail ministry that had been discontinued in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

*Hosting a summer concert series.

Axe throwing for fun

Fitzgibbon Meadery has added axe-throwing.

Ellwood City's award-winning meadery/winery held a grand opening this month for its separate recreational room where customers can fling axes at targets, inspired by the Vikings, knights and other hearty souls that appear in whimsical artistic form on many Fitzgibbon Meadery mead bottles.

"We have two lanes that can be rented for two to eight people in one- or two-hour blocks, and a viewing room where your friends can watch and heckle while they sip their mead," the Fitzgibbon Meadery website says.

It's recommended to book an axe-throwing lane in advance on the website of Fitzgibbon Meadery, located at 536 Lawrence Ave., or by calling 724-201-9694. Walk-ins are accepted only if there is a free lane.

Country star's Pittsburgh bar

Jason Aldean's Kitchen + Rooftop Bar promises to open soon on Pittsburgh's North Shore.

It will occupy the former Jerome Bettis' Grille 36.

Country star Aldean's has two similar restaurants in Tennessee that feature menu items like bison sliders, hot chicken sandwiches, striped bass, mac 'n cheese, Southern meatloaf and chicken & waffle, plus desserts such as Mama Aldean's Peach Cobbler.

Scott Tady is food & drinks/entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: What's Cooking: Local community getting a second Sheetz; Uncommon Grounds adds lunch