Sheetz is planning a $365,000 expansion of its store in Pottsville, according to Donald J. Chescavage, city code enforcement officer.
"They're going to install a new seating area and make the rest rooms more wheelchair accessible," Chescavage said Friday.
Chescavage wondered if potential changes in state law would encourage Sheetz to sell beer at the site.
"No, actually there is no plan to expand the store design in any way that would allow for beer sales for now, even with possible changes to the state laws," Monica Jones, public relations manager for Sheetz, based in Altoona, said Friday.
"The remodeled store design will add floor space inside the store to make larger bathrooms, kitchen area and a new coffee installation, a new brewing system," Jones said.
Sheetz is in the process of remodeling several of its stores. It runs more than 440 across six states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina, according to Jones.
"We are remodeling and in some cases rebuilding stores that have the white brick façade as part of a phased overhaul of more than 100 locations. The purpose is to improve older stores, making them fit the current model. Giving consistency across the chain of more than 440 stores is part of our total customer focus promise. We want all of our customers to have the same fantastic experience in any Sheetz store in any state," Jones said.
Sheetz established Store No. 258 on Gordon Nagle Trail, Pottsville, in 1998, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator. In October and November, Sheetz installed new gas pumps there.
Sheetz will expand the convenience store from 4,207 to 5,681 square feet, according to the plans on file in city hall.
The city's third-party commercial building inspector, Jerry Farro of Comprehensive Inspection Agency LLC, Cressona, approved the plans.
The proposed additions will be to the east and west sides and northwest and southwest corners of the building, according to the plans.
Firms that worked on the project included Hayes Large Architects, Harrisburg, and Keller Engineers Inc., Hollidaysburg.
The general contractor for the job hasn't been selected yet, according to Chescavage.
"This particular store will not close during the reconstruction. The construction start dates have not been set yet and the store will remain open during the remodel process. What will happen is they will set up a temporary store in a large modular trailer to continue to operate while construction takes place," Jones said.
Inside, there will be new bathrooms, counters, cash registers and "decor updates that will make people feel they're in an entirely new store," she said.
Outside, there will be a new building facade and picnic seating, she said.
"The store will be bigger and will provide the space needed to offer an expanded food and beverage menu including the signature MTO line of fresh made foods and MTGo! and Shweetz Bakery lines of freshly made sandwiches, wraps, donuts and muffins," Jones said.
While Sheetz is not making plans for beer sales at its Pottsville location, it's been encouraging customers there to support "beer law reform" in Pennsylvania.
In 2009, Sheetz launched its freemybeer.com campaign, urging consumers to push the state legislature to support "beer law reform." At the local store, information is available for customers, tear-off flyers on the coolers at the south end of the store.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Code does not allow convenience stores to sell beer and gas at the same location. But on March 21, the state House of Representatives approved House Bill 790, which could change that.
It passed in a vote of 105 to 90. Local legislators who voted in favor of it included state Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, and state Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125. Meanwhile, state Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, voted against it, according to the website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly at legis.state.pa.us
The bill is now being considered by the state Senate.
In February, Sheetz announced its support for Gov. Tom Corbett's efforts to modernize Pennsylvania liquor laws, according to a Sheetz press release available at prnewswire.com.
There are two Sheetz locations in Schuylkill County. The other is Store No. 410 at 270 Route 61 South, Schuylkill Haven.
"The Schuylkill Haven store was built in 2008 so it is fairly new and will not be receiving any renovations at this time," Jones said.