Five Startups Receive $25,000 Investments from Bucks Built Startup Fund

The Mill Run Angel Star health care facility in Bristol Borough is reportedly one step closer to opening officials said during Monday’s council meeting.

In an update to members and the public, East Ward Councilwoman Lorraine Cullen said the owners received occupancy permits from the borough for the first and second floors of the facility.

Now they’re waiting for the state to come through, Cullen said.

In February of this year the owner and contractor working on the site said a significant portion of the work had been completed on the second and third floors of the building. Subsequently agreeing to give Lower Bucks Source a sneak peek of the inside of the development, however, later ignoring requests to set up a time and date for a preview.

Credit: Jeff Bohen Lower Bucks Source

Bristol Borough and the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County took over the site in the early 2010s. An agreement was reached in 2015 to sell the property to the current owner, 1201 Wilson Acquisition (Wilson). The site changed official ownership more than four years ago.

Wilson Acquisition started work on the site by gutting the old structure in and around 2015. Construction and renovation work on the 77,000-square-foot facility soon followed.

The snail-paced progress of the work at the site has led to complaints from neighbors and officials over the years. However, the time and work invested into the project has given the site, once considered an eyesore, a modernized, sleek look when it opens its doors for good. The facility is set to provide senior care and medical offices when it opens.

And therein lies where Bristolians have focused in recent years on the yet-to-be completed project.

In late 2022 spokesman for the developers Michael Hollister provided an update to Council and the community which sparked a wave of enthusiasm and interest at the tail end of the COVID Pandemic and an opening date was near for locals hoping to work at the care facility. 

Hollister said at the time job seekers could apply for various employment roles through a website scheduled to launch in the new year (2023). The site was never launched which in turn further raised the ire of locals.

The developer expects the facility to bring 200 jobs.

It was the third time Wilson Acquisition or its representatives, according to Bristol Borough records, said the facility was about to open which never materialized.

According to official records in 2015, council, the school board and the county approved granting a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA), which limits the taxes paid on the building until 2030. Property owners must pay a local tax but the tax will not change based on property improvements. The premise is that property owners may take the money saved from local taxes and further improve the property.

LERTA is a tax abatement program created by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1977 to authorize local taxing authorities to provide tax exemptions. The legislation is designed to promote the redevelopment of aging or deteriorating properties. LERTA requires an application and approval of a graduated 10-year tax abatement for the property.

Pennsylvania officials must approve the facility before opening.

It’s going to be a while before that happens, Cullen said.

1400 Wilson facility taken in June of 2022
Credit: Jeff Bohen Lower Bucks Source

A small yet interesting mystery was solved at the Bristol Borough Council meeting Monday night when it was revealed work on the site where Direct Auto Sales (DAS) was approved to construct and operate an auto dealership is being held up by the PennDOT permitting process.

Borough Manager Jim Dillon in response to a question from Council vice-president Betty Rodriguez (west ward) who asked if DAS is still planning to open in the space that’s remained vacant since late 2017 where Lukoil Gas Station once stood.

Dillon said he was trying to expedite the permitting matter with the help of his staff. The manager noted the process has been ongoing for the last year.

Ilya Vorobey of RE/MAX Elite told Lower Bucks Source two years ago that a new facility would be constructed on the site.

The auto dealer sells vehicles of all sorts ranging from Audi to Volvo, and all makes, models and body styles in between. According to Direct Auto Sales of Philadelphia’s website the dealership also takes trade-ins.

Vorobey said accessory repairs will also be offered to DAS customers.

According to Realty.com, the property is approximately 27,000 sq feet and the property owners were willing to lease the lot or build to suit the high traffic location for its new tenants.

Situated at the Corner of Radcliffe and Market Streets approaching the entrance door you hear music pulsating, that ever so familiar disco themed 1980’s beat -think “Born to Be Alive” above the din of dings, bongs, and beeps.

A mom from New Jersey pounds the “fire” button on a 1980’s arcade game, and you have the ambiance of Players Only Arcade in Bristol Borough.

With about 50 plus coin operated games and a 1980’s themed motif highlighted by the late 60’s spirit of Star Trek’s Dr. Spock, owner-operator, former local party D.J. in his own right, Brian “Wheel’s” Nelson’s wants everyone to “play long and prosper.”

Nelson who opened Players Only Arcade in October of 2024,  was a big time arcade gamer himself back in the 80’s when arcades were a thing. The former local party DJ and who once had his own nationally syndicated mixshow dj at one time former Asteroids world record holder, he says, sees no reason why the same can’t be true for the here and now.

We have a family friendly atmosphere, we book lots of parties, it’s fairly inexpensive on an hourly basis and it’s a way for parents who were the kids of the 80’s to try and connect with their own gamer kids but outside of the home, Nelson said.

Nelson while operating a pet friendly business in New Jersey said over the years he purchased about 60m arcade games. He collected the 80’s machines and stored them. Once he and his wife closed the pet business, Nelson said, he took some time off, and his inner gamer materialized once again. However, It was in the form of launching an arcade business with all the games he used, investing thousands as a collector, and bringing them back online

On a July Saturday night Lower Bucks Source visited the arcade and a birthday party for two teenagers was happening. Folks who were eating dinner nearby walked past the arcade, heard the beats playing, came in and transported themselves back to the 80’s banging away on “Defender,” “Donkey Kong,” and the like.

Nelson said business has been steady, he’s made the needed advertising and promotional efforts and word is spreading about Players Only Arcade.

Tina and Mike in their late 20’s came from the other side of the Delaware to check out the arcade on their date night.

Howling with laughter, they played Asteroids as they got crunched by floating space debris.

Nelson said he’s been adjusting and tweaking the hours of operation in order to capture peak customer periods. He’s been responding accordingly to customer behavior recognizing and identifying those patterns.

On a Sunday in early August, a family of five walked through the open doors. Nelson welcomed the family and asked if this was their first time at the arcade.

“Yes,” Mom said, “we came all the way from Delaware, not the county, the state.”

Nelson looked up smiled, and switched into arcade owner mode. This allowed him to provide a personalized tour of the game room to her three 13-and-under sons and their dad.

Players Only Arcade is located at 201 Radcliffe Street and it’s hours of operation are below.