ROMULUS (WWJ) - A popular 24/7 gas station, coffee shop and convenience store chain -- best known for their custom food -- will break ground at its first Michigan location on Thursday, officials announced.
As reported by Crain's, Sheetz Inc., an American chain owned by the Sheetz family, will be built in Romulus at 33380 Wick Road, west of Vining Road, with local officials due to gather at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, for ground breaking at the site.
It is slated to open in the latter part of 2024.
Brian Dinges, assistant vice president of real estate for Sheetz, said in an email to Crain's that they have "ambitious plans" to grow throughout the state, as well as into Toledo.
"We are excited to open our first store in the state in Romulus," he wrote.
The Pennsylvania -based company said they expect to open 50 to 60 Sheetz locations in the Detroit area within the next five to six years.
Plans for the store and gas station were found in Romulus Planning Commission documents. The store is to be located on the approximately 211-acre Romulus Trade Center project property and is expected to bring in a staggering $130 million in investments.
According to Crain's, the project, in addition to the Sheetz store, includes about 2 million square feet of industrial and warehouse space, expected to bring about 750-1,000 construction jobs and 500 permanent jobs.
The Planning Commission documents state that the store will take up 6,900 square feet and there will be 12 vehicle fueling stations and five truck fueling stations under a 4.700-square-foot canopy.
While typical Sheetz location carries the essentials, when the property is larger, the company adds other amenities like EV charging stations, walk-in beer and wine coolers and, sometimes, a car wash.
Sheetz is most known among its customers for their specialty drinks and made-to-go food menu.
The company was founded in 1952 by Bob Sheetz when he purchased one of his father's five dairy stores located in Altoona, Pennsylvania, the company's website states.
Over 70 years later, they now have over 700 stores located in Central and Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and in North Carolina.