Rocky Mountain House Co-op Association Ltd. is taking a big bite out of Gateway Crossing.
The Co-op has purchased two acres on the north end of the commercial centre in Rocky and plans to build a gas bar, convenience store, touchless car wash and liquor store, confirmed general manager Shane Buss.
“We’re hoping we can be up and running by November,” said Buss, adding that construction is expected to begin in June.
Rocky Co-op currently operates a shopping centre with groceries, clothing and general merchandise, and has an adjacent building centre. It also runs a bulk fuel plant, a two-pump gas bar with a convenience store and two card lock fuel sites.
Last year, said Buss, the gas bar sold 5.5 million litres of pumped fuel.
“We’re busting at the seams.”
The new gas bar will offer customers 10 lanes and five pumps, with features like pay-at-the-pump service.
“We’re projecting to do roughly around 7.5 million litres at the new site,” said Buss, pointing to Gateway Crossing’s prominent location near the intersection of Hwy 11 and 52nd Street.
“The highway exposure we’re going to gain from there is unbelievable.”
Rocky Co-op’s existing gas bar will continue to operate, although fuel volumes there are expected to decline to a more reasonable 2.5 million litres a year, said Buss.
Meanwhile, a small animal vet clinic is also preparing to open at Gateway Crossing.
Gateway Companion Animal Clinic is expected to begin accepting patients early this summer. It will be operated by vets Katryna Garrett and Kristine McLean, who are both longtime Rocky residents and have practised in the community.
Already operating at Gateway Crossing, which was developed by Ronmor Developers Inc. at the former site of Will Sinclair High School, is a Shoppers Drug Mart, Warehouse One — The Jean Store, Tim Hortons, Lube-X Fast Oil Change, The Cash Store, Taco Del Mar and Subway.
Ryan Darragh, Ronmor’s leasing and development manager, said two bays remain in a multi-tenant building. He added that there is also space for a 5,000-square-foot building on the front corner of the site.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com