Scranton, PA -
In just a matter of months, the city of Scranton will have its first Sheetz gas station and convenience store. A groundbreaking for the new facility was held Friday morning. Economic officials hope the development will have a ripple effect.
There are three other Sheetz locations already in Lackawanna County but each is on the outskirts of the city itself.
Business leaders hope the new location at the Mount Pleasant Corporate Center may have other companies taking a second look at the spots that are still available.
Friday's groundbreaking was nothing more than ceremonial.
Work is already underway at the site where the new Sheetz will be located at the corner of West Linden Street and Seventh Avenue in Scranton.
The gas station and convenience store will stand at the gateway of the Mount Pleasant Corporate Center which was built in 2009.
"While we have Geisinger and Beacon Medical, we really were looking for something that could stand out," Bob Durkin with the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce said.
Sheetz company officials say the design of the new store will be unique because it will have a drive-thru.
"We've found that it helps with parents who have young kids and may be in a rush and don't want to take the kids out of the car seat to come in," David Smith, real estate site developer for Sheetz said.
Economic leaders hope Sheetz will help other companies come in and fill the remaining two available lots.
"We are talking to some people about them right now and we'll see where that goes," Durkin said.
Scranton's mayor says this development is just the beginning of what is to come.
"Governor Wolf has designated six zones in the city of Scranton as 'opportunity zones' and there is only eight total in all of this area and Scranton got six of them, being downtown Scranton going up to the Hill Section and South Side so I think you're going to see in the future even more economic development which we love!" Scranton mayor Bill Courtright said.
As part of the new developments, the city of Scranton is partnering with Geisinger and other facilities to put new sidewalks in. They say a lot of people visiting in the area have kids in strollers and the sidewalks are badly needed.
Sheetz is hoping to have its new 24-hour location in the city of Scranton open by January.
https://www.pahomepage.com/news/construction-on-scranton-s-first-sheetz-begins/1301100158
