PENHOLD – Junction 42 will be a boon for the local economy.
Innisfail caterer Jolene Bjarnason will be a big contributor to that economic boost as owner of Diner 2/42, a retro 1950s-style restaurant that will be built in the area.
“This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” said Bjarnason. “It’s a fun business. I love to cook and people love to eat good food so it’s a perfect combination.”
The 1950s-style diner will be one of several new businesses in the area known as Junction 42.
Red Deer County held a groundbreaking for its new development area and rest stop on June 27.
Junction 42 is located at the Highway 2 and Highway 42 interchange just east of Penhold, and will be more than 200 acres in size. It will include a rest area, a Petro-Canada gas station, electric vehicle services station, Tim Hortons, Burger King and Diner 2/42.
Penhold mayor Mike Yargeau is excited about the opportunities Junction 42 will bring to Penhold and the area.
“The Town of Penhold boundaries are adjacent to it, so we’re excited about it and we’re really looking forward to the things this is going to lead to,” said Yargeau. “We know eventually (this growth) is going to come to Penhold.”
The economic impact will benefit Penhold and area in several ways, noted Yargeau.
“It makes it more of an attractive pull-off spot for travellers. It will bring more people to our community and more jobs to our community,” he added.
Diner 2/42 will be the first restaurant venture for Bjarnason, who also runs Complete Catering in Innisfail and is caterer at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion branch.
“It’s exciting. It’s a little scary too and lots of work, but we’re used to hard work,” she said, noting much help and support from family members.
In addition to a 1950s-style diner with home-cooked meals, Diner 2/42 will also include a Saturday night car hop, followed by an antique and muscle car show, and will feature a drive-in theatre on site.
"We’re going to serve malts and milkshakes, homemade pie, meatloaf and roast beef, pork chops and mashed potatoes. It’ll be all homemade, delicious and plentiful.
“We want to make it a destination and a whole '50s experience,” she said. "We want it to be fun and a fun place to go.
“You’re going to feel good and have a full belly when you leave our place," Bjarnason concluded.
The new rest stop is the first phase of development for Junction 42. Future development could include light and medium industrial businesses.
Construction for most of Junction 42 is expected to be complete by mid-November 2019 with Diner 2/42 expected to be complete and open by the summer or fall of 2020.
