Sheetz's new store on Perry Highway in McCandless opening Thursday

Sheetz’s plan to build a new convenience store across the street from its current location on a cramped triangle of land at the junction of Old Perry Highway and Perry Highway has come to fruition after nearly two and a half years.

Company officials announced that the new store will official open to the public this Thursday.

“Sheetz is excited to be offering our loyal customers in McCandless a new store design, which will include a restaurant-style experience with self-service kiosks and additional seating both inside and outside the store,” said Nick Ruffner, the company’s public relations manager.

Once the new store opens, the old one will be closed.

Sheetz had to stop selling gasoline at the old location in October 2018 so it could continue to pursue plans to build the new store without violating a McCandless zoning ordinances that does not allow two gas stations within 1,500 feet of each other, even though the new station had yet to be constructed.

The company also faced considerable push back from residents living on the streets surrounding the new location who argued that a larger convenience store and gasoline station would increase their exposure to gasoline and diesel fumes; add more noise, light and traffic congestion; lower property values and generally disturb the neighborhood.

The company agreed to a number of modifications to appease residents, including:

• An enclosure with 8-foot high walls around the trash receptacles

• An earthen mound with shrubs and trees on top to serve as a buffer between the gas station and residential properties.

• No external lighting of signs and installation of an opaque canopy over the fuel pumps with recessed lighting to remove glare.

• Lower lighting poles that are adjacent to residential properties.

• Prohibiting trash collection and fuel and product deliveries between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.

• Limiting outside dining to certain hours

The changes were not enough to stop a pair of lawsuits filed by residents seeking to halt the project. Those lawsuits were eventually dismissed by a judge.

The company also faced delays by town council in July when members said the Altoona-based company failed to provide sufficient details, in writing, about how it planned to regulate alcohol sales at the new store.

Once council was satisfied with Sheetz’s plans to control beer and wine sales, council approved its request to transfer a liquor license to the new store.