But the project at routes 518 & 31 in Hopewell Township will soon mark the end of a beloved local landmark.
For almost 30 years folks looking for tasty ice cream or interested in juicy cheese-steaks have stopped at Karen's at Brookside, a tiny bright yellow food-stand located at the busy crossroads of Routes 518 and 31 in Hopewell twp.
Tony Martino/CHURCHVILLE, PA.-
Karen Bendix/OWNER:
Adam Forbes/PENNINGTON, N.J.:
Rich Braun/EWING, N.J.:
Jon Edwards/D-TWP. COMMITTEEMAN:
Karen hopes to move her business somewhere nearby--but says the state isn't offering for the land its seizing much more than she paid for it in 1975. She says she may go to court to try to get a better deal. (Copyright 2003 by Action News. All Rights Reserved.)
"Every time we do work in this area we go out of our way to come here cause it's been here for a long time and the food's really good."
But a plan to widen and reconfigure the hazardous intersection here will cut so close to this local landmark that longtime owner Karen Bendix has decided to close it down at the end of the summer.
"If I were to stay I would be limited to 8 parking spaces as a opposed to 25 so it would financially kill me. It would be financial suicide."
News of the closing is breaking the hearts of loyal customers.
Barbara Nixon/LAMBERTVILLE, N.J.:"It's gonna be sad. The kids are really gonna miss it and I will too because we always come here in the summertime."
"It's sad to see it go. Its just another thing that you say goodbye to cause of development."
"I know a lot of people come here for years when they were little kids. They bring their children to it, to this place. We'll al miss it."
Karen's decision to close is also upsetting to local officials who forced DOT to scale back it's original plan hoping to discourage more truck traffic and preserve the business.
"We learned only a month ago dot is still wanted to claim the land and I'm frustrated."
I cry everyday. It's been fun its been great and the people are wonderful.
