10th NY Thruway rest stop reopens as part of $450M project

The Pembroke Service Area, located on Interstate 90 East between Exit 48 (Batavia) and Exit 48A (Pembroke/Medina), reopened on Thursday. At 20,145 square feet, this facility is one of the largest rest stops along the superhighway.

There are three restaurants in the service area: Burger King, Dunkin’ and Popeye’s. A fourth Panera Bread is expected to open later this year, according to highway officials. An Applegreen convenience store is located on-site and sells Taste NY beverages and food.

New additions include dog walking areas, outdoor seating and private nursing rooms. Other facilities are coming soon, including temperature-controlled pet enclosures, a digital sightseeing kiosk, six level 3 fast electric car chargers, and a playground.

Pembroke is one of four service areas with additional facilities for truckers, including separate entrances, lockers, lounges, toilets, showers, washers and dryers.

Completion of the Pembroke Service Area is a milestone in the privately funded project led by Empire State Thruway Partners, founded by Ireland-based Applegreens. It will be the 10th rest stop to reopen since the service area first closed in July 2021. Despite the delays that have affected the project, nine other rest stops that closed two years ago have been rebuilt and began reopening last summer.

In conjunction with the reopening of the Pembroke Service Area, the Highway Administration announced that two rest stops on Interstate 90 East (Angola and Scottsville) are now closed. Refueling services are available at both locations, but the restaurant and restrooms are closed for construction.