Hills Snack Bar food trailer to debut in Beaver County

Jason Powell recalled shopping at Hills in Green Garden Plaza in Aliquippa, Beaver County — the soft pretzels, popcorn, nachos and Icee drinks were always a treat.

Now, he’s bringing those memories back to life with the Hills Snack Bar.

It’s a food trailer that will officially open at noon Saturday, outside Miller and Sons Chevrolet in Green Garden Plaza. It’s the same location where Hills used to be.

“I have been a Hills fan since I was a little kid,” said Powell, 40, of Independence, Beaver County. “I have so many memories stuck in my head. I loved that place.”

So do many others.

Since announcing the snack bar via social media, he said he has been flooded with messages. People want the snack bar to make a trip to their event or celebration. Some of those inquiries have come from as far away as New York and Tennessee.

Powell said he is open to making road trips with the trailer, but to start he has events planned throughout Pennsylvania. He has approval for most of the state, except Allegheny County, which has its own health department. He is working to get the go-ahead from them, he said.

The snack bar held a soft opening July 8 at the Independence Day of Celebration in Beaver County. The reaction was fantastic, Powell said.

Powell, who has a full-time job, said his family has been supporting him in the endeavor. Prices won’t be from 1999, but they will be reasonable, he said. They take cash and credit cards. He is entertaining the idea of trading food for Hills merchandise with original price tags.

“We want to keep it as fair as possible, but the hope is people will see the value in what they are getting with the food and the experience,” he said. “There are huge collectors out there of Hills merchandise.”

He said the trailer should be able to go anywhere a food truck can, from festivals and community events to former sites of Hills stores — of which there are hundreds. The business is based in Independence, where Powell lives.

He will have it stocked with popcorn, hot dogs, nachos with “Que Bueno” cheese, J&J Snack Foods soft pretzels. The Icee machine will be swirling with blue raspberry, cherry and coke flavors, perfect for Saturday’s summer weather.

“It’s really about the nostalgia,” Powell said. “I will feel it when we pull into the parking lot on Saturday. That was my Hills store.”

The Hills Snack Bar will be at the Green Garden Plaza, 3000 Green Garden Road, Aliquippa, on Saturday.

Hours will be noon to 3 p.m. Follow Hills Snack Bar on Facebook.