ORWIGSBURG - The former Market Place has been sold with plans to turn it into a credit union.
"It has been sold to the Hidden River Credit Union," said James Patton, who owned the approximately 2.500-square-foot building at 629 W. Market St. with his wife, Cindy.
The property was sold about three weeks ago, he said.
A decline in business was one of the reasons Patton said he decided to close the store that had been open for 25 years.
Milkshakes, groceries, coffee, newspapers and other items were sold there and movie rentals were available.
Warren Schach, facility maintenance security coordinator with Hidden River, said the credit union wanted to continue to provide service to its customers.
"We want to provide our members with a full service branch," he said.
Hidden River has three locations: 60 Westwood Road, Pottsville; 705 W. Market St., Orwigsburg, and 250 Parkway, Schuylkill Haven. The Pottsville location is the only site with a drive-thru window, Schach said.
Plans for the site have not been finalized, talks have included two drive-thru lanes and a drive up ATM, he said. Schach said Hidden River hopes to open the new branch toward the end of the year.
While Hidden River disclosed plans for the former Market Place, Orwigsburg Borough Manager Mike Lonergan said the plans had not been submitted to the borough as of Wednesday.
The current Orwigsburg branch near the former Market Place will close; however, a date was not provided.
Staffing of the new site will likely include employees from the Orwigsburg location and/or Schuylkill Haven branches, Schach said. Its hours will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and possible Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., he said.