Sheetz to Open 426th Store

CLAYSBURG, Pa. -- Sheetz continues to march forward with its expansion by opening its 426th convenience store in Claysburg, Pa. A grand opening event and ribbon-cutting will be held at 7:45 a.m. this Thursday, Aug. 9, at the new store, located near Old Route 220 and Sheetz Way, reports the Altoona Mirror.

The store has 30 indoor seats and five tables outside with 20 seats and has been termed a "convenience restaurant" like all of the Altoona, Pa.-based company's new stores and rebuilds, said Steve Augustine, Sheetz director of real estate. It does not have a drive-thru, but it does have a car wash and commercial diesel fueling area.

The 6,500-square-foot location will have 40 to 45 full- and part-time jobs and add $3.5 million taxable property value to the local and county tax base, added company officials. It is located near the Sheetz Distribution Center and Sheetz Bros. Kitchen in the Walter Business Park.

"We've had terrific local support at every store we've opened and are continuing to see strong sales," stated President and CEO Stan Sheetz. "We're kind of the exception in a tough economy."

Another nearby store is expected to open on Route 36 in McKee, Pa., on Sept. 13, Augustine said, and plans are in progress for a Logan Township, Pa., store as well.

Sheetz plans to open 32 new locations in 2012 and another 34 in 2013, most of them in North Carolina, according to the report.

"We will likely hit 500 stores in 2014 or 2015," Augustine said.