Business is booming at the Ohio Turnpike's newly renovated Erie Islands and Commodore Perry service plazas near Woodville. The plazas were officially opened at a celebration attended by turnpike and state officials and by representatives of Host Marriott Services, which will operate the facilities.

The 1950s-era service plazas are the first to have undergone a complete makeover as part of the turnpike's $1.3 billion modernization program. The $22 million reconstruction cost was $3.4 million more than expected because of unforeseen environmental costs.
The renovated centers offer more services than the previous facilities and include more parking, a business center, gift shop, truckers' lounge and laundry facilities, and a food court that offers a full-service restaurant. The restaurants include Starbucks Coffee, Cinnabon, Sbar-ros, Burger King, Jody Maroni's, and Max and Erma's.
The plazas are the first of 16 to be reconstructed. Turnpike officials expect reconstruction of the rest to be completed sometime in 2004. The next two slated for renovation are the Brady's Leap and Portage stops southeast of Cleveland.