ANDERSON, Ind. —
Work on the new Pay Less fuel center at the Applewood location continues with the station expected to be finished in mid-March.
The fuel center will have five gas pumps that will service cars on both sides in a “U” shape around a fuel kiosk in the northeast corner of the parking lot of the Pay Less at 1900 Applewood Center, said John Elliott, public affairs manager for Kroger’s central division. Pay Less is owned by Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. corporation. It will be built behind the Burger King located at 56th Street and Scatterfield Road. It will eliminate 31 of the 981 available parking spots.
“We react to both customer and associate feedback in everything we do,” he said. “We have had a very strong response about bringing a fuel center to customers on that side of town. There has been positive feedback of the significant savings of the fuel rewards program where you can accumulate up to a dollar a gallon off.”
The current construction at the site, Elliott said, is work to the storm water retention area required to build the fuel center. Construction began in the last week of December and crews are working to dig out the water retention area now. When that is completed, he said, piping will be run back toward the fuel center area. When that is completed the next step will be to construct a canopy over the entire fuel center area, Elliott said.
The typical investment for a fuel center of this size is around $850,000, but this project is costing around $1.1 million because of the storm water retention component.
The gas station will employ a total of four to six employees, with two on duty at a time from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. The station will be open 24 hours, though, so after the attendants leave, customers can purchase gas with a credit card.
Elliott said the company is adding fuel centers to every store it is able. The northside Pay Less, at Cross Street and North Scatterfield Road, has had one for several years.
The Anderson Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved the company’s petition for a special exception to allow the filling station to be built last year.
The station will benefit residents because as it is now, people who shop at the Applewood Pay Less must drive several miles to the northside store in order to get their gas discount, said board member Willie Rayford. The new station will be more convenient for southside shoppers, he said.
Contact Abbey Doyle: 640-4805, abbey.doyle@heraldbulletin.com
What’s next:
- The Pay Less fuel center at 1900 Applewood Center Drive is expected to open in mid-March. Construction began late December and crews are currently working on the storm water retention area.
