The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • The proposed location of Sheetz near Crossroads Mall. Christopher J. Jackson

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  • The proposed location in Beaver. Christopher J. Jackson

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August 22, 2010

Sheetz scheduled to open two stores in Raleigh County

By Christopher J. Jackson Register-Herald Reporter

— Raleigh County residents will soon take a new turn toward the term convenience this year.

Sheetz, the one-stop-shop for almost anything, will break ground near Crossroads Mall in the coming months, said Sheetz real estate site selector Errin Hensley.

In addition to the location at Crossroads Mall, Beaver has been selected as another location beside the office of State Farm agent Susan Pietrantozzi. It’s not scheduled for construction until next spring or summer, according to Hensley.

“Traffic is the top thing we look at,” Hensley said. “We look at demographics and area. (Crossroads location) is the main artery in and out of Beckley. We felt it’s a good location. Same with Beaver.”

Traffic getting in and out will be a major concern for the Beaver store, which Hensley said is “crazy down there in the evening.”

Because permits for the location aren’t finalized for the Beaver location, measures to ease the flow of traffic have yet to be made.

Sheetz, which is based in Altoona, Pa., is spread from northern Pennsylvania to central North Carolina and its stores are common throughout Cabell and Monongalia counties.

Hensley said Sheetz is looking to expand more in the southern part of the state with locations already under construction in Fayetteville and Summersville.

“We’re looking to grow in that area,” he said. “(We’re) looking at the Princeton area as well. We’d like to have four to five locations round the Beckley area.”

The popularity and success of Sheetz have come from its food offerings, Hensley said.

Monica Jones, Sheetz public relations manager, said all stores offer made-to-order — advertised as MTO —  food with a menu including hot and cold deli sandwiches, salads, wraps, burgers, burritos, grilled chicken sandwiches and fajitas.

The items can be completely customized using a touchscreen ordering system.

Full-service espresso and smoothie bars are a staple to the Sheetz brand. They offer everything from hot, cold and frozen lattes to smoothies that come in nine flavors, including lemonade, strawberry banana and wildberry.

With a recent push toward a healthier lifestyle, Sheetz is always seeking customer input on what they'd like to see at the locations, Jones said.

This is what sets them apart, Hensley said.

“We offer customers anything they would need as far as food,” he said. “Our food really differentiates from our competitors.”

— E-mail: cjackson@register-herald.com

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