New gas station, convenience store could be coming to University Drive in State College
A State College gas station that has sat vacant for nearly a decade could finally reopen in the not-too-distant future as a gas station/convenience store — albeit directly across the street from another gas station/convenience store.
The property owner of the former Greg’s Sunoco, which closed in 2014 at 605 University Drive, has found a new lessee who wants to repair and renovate the space. Architectural renderings of the renovations include a small sign near the entrance that says “APlus” — a convenience store chain used by Sunoco — although the branding was never broached during a public meeting Monday.
The location is less than 200 feet away from Snappy’s at 535 University Drive, as the two businesses are separated only by Bellaire Avenue. Two competing gas stations have simultaneously operated there in the past.
“At one point, we had some inquiries about housing but, because of the size of the (0.7-acre) lot, it must not have been viable,” State College Borough senior planner Greg Garthe said. “That’s all that I can think of, so this is the only formal submission for the site.”
It is not yet known when the gas station/convenience store might open, as a lot of work remains. The lessee, Resham Dadra, shared his plans Monday night during a public hearing for a conditional-use permit at the State College Borough Council meeting.
Council is expected to vote on the permit next month but, as long as certain conditions are satisfied, the borough is essentially obligated to approve the permit. Staff recommended it be approved.
Still, the lessee has a lot of work before his vision becomes a reality. He will need to submit a traffic impact study (or a letter from a traffic engineer if he wants an exemption), receive approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection that the existing fueling facilities are acceptable, submit a sewer permit application, improve existing landscape/lighting, etc.
On top of that, Dadra intends to convert the service garage into a convenience store space and plans to install new siding, windows and doors. He also wants to make ADA parking upgrades, and he wants the space to have a kitchen with fryers and a griddle. (There will be no drive-thru, per the plans.)
The property owner, Montoursville-based Welteroth Property Group, purchased the 36,000-square-foot site for $1 million at auction in 2015, after the state seized the property earlier that year. That came six years after the former owner of Greg’s Sunoco, Greg Palazzari, was arrested for his role in a cocaine ring that saw him accused of selling about $50,000 of the drug a month.
Palazzari died at home in 2016.
The Centre Daily Times reached out to Welteroth and the architect for clarity on the timelines and the branding of the convenience store. Welteroth did not respond to a message, and the architect declined to comment but said he would forward the message to Dadra.
Dadra did not respond as of press time.
