Residents and university students in the town of Waynesburg eagerly awaited the renovations of the Sheetz in the center of town to be completed at the end of last year. Franklin Township is now soon to be the recipient of a second Sheetz location, with this one being located on the other side of Interstate 79 across from the airport.
The placement of the Sheetz was announced back in 2016, however, ground was only officially broken on the site recently. Public Relations Manager Nick Ruffner says the location was a desirable spot for a second store, due to the high amount of traffic that goes through the area.
“We have a real estate team that takes a close look at all of our store locations,” said Ruffner. “What we’ve seen is that this location is going to be adjacent to I-79 and so it’s going to be really appealing for not only people from Waynesburg but also for travelers along I-79. They can hop off and get some gas for their vehicles and also take advantage of our Made-to-Order food
as well.”
The new location will be available from both Murtha Dr. and Route 21, making for easy access from both roads.
The store is expected to have nearly all the same amenities as the newly renovated Sheetz in FranklinsTownship, with beer sales, a drive-through, both indoor and outdoor seating and 12 fueling locations for vehicles. The store will be 6,050 square feet in size.
A lesser known component of the drive-through, according to Ruffner, is the ability to order items from both the Made-to-Order menu and items on the shelves.
“Our drive-thru is kind of a unique concept that’s different than most establishments in that it really is an inside-out concept,” said Ruffner. “So, if you go through the drive-thru, not only can you order Made-to-Order food through our kiosk, but you can also ask for items inside the store. The only things that you can’t ask for are lottery tickets and beer.”
With construction currently underway, Ruffner says the process typically takes about five to six months to be built and open. The projected date for the store’s expected opening is September of this year; however, that is not official.
According to Ruffner, Sheetz opens about 20 to 30 new locations per year and is also constantly renovating and updating existing locations to improve customer experience—such as those that occurred at Waynesburg’s first Sheetz location.
New stores typically open with 30 to 35 positions needing to be filled, so, Ruffner said, students and those in the community are encouraged to watch the company’s website for openings and apply when available.