By Brian Malina

A new sink, some wall paneling and a sandwich all under one roof-- well almost.

When Lowe's home improvement center opens next month behind the Wyoming Valley Mall, customers will have to walk only a few feet to grab a bite at the Dominic's of New York^® kiosk.

Dominic's, a Virginia-based chain, announced plans Tuesday to open an Italian-style, fast food stand Nov.11 outside of Lowe's on Mundy Street in Wilkes-Barre Township.

The practice of mixing home centers and food is becoming more common.

"It's good for them and it's good for us," said Cindy Horstman, spokeswoman for Dominic's. "People can walk up to the window and eat on their way in or out of the store."

During the past three years, Dominic's has opened 30 kiosk cafés in front of Lowe's home centers, including stores in West Hazleton and Dickson City.

Lowe's isn't the only area home center to offer an on-site eatery. Outside Hechinger's Home Project Center in Wilkes-Barre Township, customers can grab a bite at Stookey's Bar-B-Que.

"It's a convenience for customers. With professional contractors, the get busy and might not eat lunch. This way, if they want to get a coffee or a soda, it's there," said Walter Kolesa, manager of Hechinger's.

Ralph Frank, owner of West Nanticoke-based Stookey's, said business has gone so well outside Hechinger's, he wants to build a similar stand outside another area retail store. "I'm looking for another location now," Frank said.

Jule Schreffler, spokeswoman for Lowe's said that having a café nearby is a customer amenity that keeps people shopping longer.

"With a project center, people are in there for hours; they lose track of time. We don't want them to leave because they are hungry," Schreffler said.

Dominic's Wilkes-Barre Township kiosk will employ four people. The menu will include Italian sausages, steak sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, portabella mushroom sandwiches and hot dogs. Prices will range from $1.99 to $6.99.

If the local cafés prove successful, Dominic's will market its Italian sausage to area supermarkets, Horstman said.

Dominic's is one of two cafés planned for the new "Power Strip" retail center on Mundy Street. Robert Tambur, president of TFP Limited, which owns the plaza, said the center also will include Don Pablo's café, Dick's Sporting Goods, a bookstore, a craft store, and an office supply store.