The approval of an off premises beer and wine license brings the Poarch Band of Creek Indians one step closer to opening one of their newest projects – the PCI travel plaza currently under construction on Exit 54, just off Jack Springs Road.

The license was approved by the Escambia County Commission during the regular meeting Monday morning and Commissioner Brandon Smith said there were no hiccups.

“We approved it,” Smith  said. “We generally always will approve a license unless there has been some past problem, like drug activity or selling alcohol to minors. None of that is the case in this instance.”

The new travel center, which is scheduled to open in early fall, will include 100 parking spaces for 18-wheelers, as well as six to eight commercial parcels and talk of a large Dollar General store is already floating around the complex.

The new PCI entertainment plaza, which is scheduled to include a movie theater, bowling alley and arcade, is also in the early stages of development as crews prepare the current parking lot area between Wind Creek Casino and Hotel and Alabama 21 for the beginning of construction. The entertainment center is scheduled to open for business in the summer of 2013.