Sheetz is knocking on Delaware's door. Elkton, Maryland, store opens soon
Sheetz, the gas station and convenience store rival to Wawa, is close to opening its first location in Elkton, Maryland.
The store, located at Route 40 and Commerce Center Drive, is the closest Sheetz has come to the Delaware border. The company is targeting a Sept. 25 opening, according to a spokesperson, with an overall goal of opening in late September or early October.
With more than 600 stores, Sheetz is a stalwart of western Pennsylvania. Like Wawa, its "made-to-go" products like burgers, hot dogs and fries that are ordered at a touch screen have developed a cult following.
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"They are extremely well respected in the convenience industry and retail overall," Jeff Lenard, vice president of strategic industry initiatives for the National Association of Convenience Stores, told Delaware Online/The News Journal earlier this year.
Wawa and Sheetz have already crossed paths in Pennsylvania's Lancaster, Berks and Lehigh counties and both companies mix with Royal Farms in parts of Maryland. But so far, the First State has remained off-limits for Sheetz.
Industry observers told Delaware Online/The News Journal earlier this year that it's possible the Elkton store foretells an expansion into Delaware. Convenience store chains look to expand in "clusters" to take advantage of efficiencies of scale for distribution and hiring, as well as brand awareness. The Elkton store will be almost 40 miles from the company's nearest existing location in Maryland. The site is about 1 mile from the Delaware line.
Bob Sheetz founded Sheetz in 1952 when he purchased one of his father's five dairy stores in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The company grew slowly over the next three decades, achieving a store count of 100 by 1983.
Sheetz started to take on its modern identity in 1995 when Bob's son, Stan, became president. Stan Sheetz introduced touchscreen ordering and tagged on a "z" to many of the store's products (the current offerings include Sheetz Bros. Coffeez and Shweetz bakery).
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Sheetz stores typically feature a large red canopy for a dozen gas pumps and a brick building with red detailing.
The Elkton store will be 6,100 square feet. It will have a drive-thru and indoor and outdoor seating, in addition to gas pumps.
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Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @holveck_brandon.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Sheetz in Elkton is close to opening as company approaches Delaware
