BETHESDA, Md. -- HMSHost Corp. said it will provide travelers with trusted brand-name food, beverage and retail service in two new travel plazas along the Maine Turnpike.
HMSHost won a contract extension from the Maine Turnpike Authority in March 2006, and began construction last September. Now, the Kennebunk North and South Travel Plazas are open to the public, offering a variety of choices including Starbucks and Z Market.
Construction on the remaining outlets will be completed within the month, the company said.
"The construction of these new travel plazas also created local jobs, said Paul E. Violette, Maine Turnpike Authority executive director.
The Kennebunk North Travel Plaza, located at Mile 25 in Kennebunk, will include Starbucks Coffee, Hershey's Ice Cream featuring Tropicool Smoothies, Burger King and Popeyes Chicken. The Kennebunk South Travel Plaza, also located at Mile 25 in Kennebunk, will feature the same vendors and will offer Sbarro in place of Popeyes.
Both locations offer Z Market, a convenience store with a selection including fresh, hot and cold gourmet foods to go, in addition to convenience products, travel items and everyday essentials. Z Market has its own deli case, featuring Fresh Attractions sandwiches, sandwich wraps, salads and sides. Individually wrapped, all are freshly made and easily transportable for consumption on the go. An extensive beverage selection features favorite brands such as bottled Figi and Vitamin waters, Starbucks Frappuccino, Red Bull and others.
Z Market also offers items that travelers may require including regional and national publications, bestselling novels, digital camera accessories, memory flash cards and more.
The renovated and rebuilt travel plazas feature up-to-date designs to better accommodate motorists' needs, making the Turnpike travel experience more convenient and enjoyable, such as brighter, larger restrooms; a food court environment with atrium seating, an outdoor patio, multiple entrances and exits and increased parking for both cars and trucks.
C.N. Brown gas stations are also now open for business at both plazas.
Bethesda, Md.-based HMSHosta wholly owned subsidiary of Autogrill S.p.Aprovides restaurants and shops in travel venues. It operates in more than 100 motorway travel plazas throughout North America.
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