If you’ve driven past the new Sheetz store that’s under construction on N. Atherton Street you’ve probably noticed the new place is coming together in a hurry.
The new structure is already in place just one month after the old place was torn down. Supports for an awning that will cover rows of gas pumps is also in position.
But there’s still a lot of work to do before the new Sheetz store opens for business. On Wednesday morning, construction crews were visible working inside and outside.
Once completed, the store will have brand new indoor seating for up to 32 people, larger gas pumps and more parking for customers.
Sheetz’ overall plan is to focus more on selling food. In the future, Sheetz believes that more and more people will be doing less driving. That’s why it’s shifting away from sales of gasoline, and typical convenience store items such as pet food and auto supplies.
Sheetz Director of Real Estate Steve Augustine says, “We want to sell food … The future for us is becoming a restaurant.”
Monica Jones, Public Relations Manager for Sheetz Inc., says the old store was just worn out. “This one was overdue,” she says.
“We’re just glad that we were able to expand on the existing property,” she says.
Augustine agrees, “It really saved us a lot of time that we didn’t have to work around the old building.”
Sheetz hopes customers will return to the N. Atherton Street store once construction ends, but there’s no way to know whether sales will be better or worse.
“We certainly hope it has the capacity of better sales, simply because it’s a better layout,” says Augustine. The new store will be 6,330 square feet – three times the size of the old store.
Unless weather interferes, the new Sheetz store is expected to open on Sept. 9.
