First-Ever Sheetz Grocery Store & Café Debuts
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Sheetz Inc. entered a new era Tuesday with the opening of its new concept restaurant/grocery store at West Virginia University. The latest location marks the first fuel-free Sheetz convenience store with a complete focus on food and beverage offerings.
The new store is located on the ground floor of University Place, a new mixed-use residential and retail complex just blocks from West Virginia University's downtown campus.
The 15,000-square-foot grocery store and café concept is the first retailer to offer grocery options in the downtown Morgantown area in several years. Sheetz at University Place is triple the size of a typical Sheetz store and provides indoor and outdoor seating for 100 customers.
The grand opening kicked off at 11 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting and the celebration carried on to 3 p.m. with sampling, free self-serve coffee and fountain drinks, games and prizes. Local radio station WVAQ did a live remote from the store from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sheetz has been developing this concept for more than two years. According to the retailer, the new store shows its passion for food and a devotion to innovation and excellence. Every detail of the space gives customers a new way to enjoy Sheetz food and grocery offerings, and provide locals and students a new way to shop, live and socialize in downtown Morgantown.
In addition to the grand-opening festivities, Sheetz is offering a $10,000 scholarship to one full- or part-time West Virginia University student. Ten finalists will be selected and the winner will be announced March 7 at the WVU vs. Oklahoma State University men's basketball game. Winners must be present at the game to win.
As is customary with every Sheetz store grand opening, the chain donated $2,500 to Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Sheetz has been a supporter of the Special Olympics for more than 20 years through both financial and product support, as well as providing event volunteers.
Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz operates convenience stores in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina. It opened its 500th location on Feb. 24.