Business, Latest News, News

Sheetz construction to begin in March

Construction of the new Sheetz convenience store at the former Eloquence Antiques & Artisans location will begin sometime next month with completion targeted for summer, a spokesman for the Altoona, Pa.-based convenience store chain said.

As part of the project, the two-story building at 1867 Mileground Road, will be razed, said Nick Ruffner, a Sheetz spokesman. In its place, Sheetz will construct a 4,906-square-foot store with inside and outside seating, along with the capability to fuel 12 vehicles at one time.

“This is a new store for Sheetz and is not replacing any existing store in the Morgantown area,” Ruffner said in an email.

Eloquence Antiques relocated to Mountaineer Mall Feb. 15 and is now located in the former Rex TV Appliance space in the newer section of the mall.

It is not known how the demolition of the former Eloquence Antiques building and subsequent construction of the new Sheetz will impact plans to widen Mileground Road from three to five lanes, including a center turning lane. The West Virginia Division of Highways is still trying to assemble the needed parcels for the project to progress, The Dominion Post reported last month.

DOH officials did not respond to either telephone or email requests for comment on the $8.7 million project. The contract for that work has been awarded to Mountaineer Contractors, of Kingwood.

When Morgantown’s latest Sheetz store opens this summer, it will be the convenience store’s seventh location in Greater Morgantown.

Sheetz, which is privately held, has more than 500 stores in six states: West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina.

TWEET @41Suzanne