Sheetz drive-thru coming to Stuarts Draft

STUARTS DRAFT – This spring, Stuarts Draft will be seeing a Sheetz drive-thru on U.S. 340.

The gas station and convenience store broke ground last week on a four-month project, said Allen Stevens of Sheetz.

The corporation has leased just over two acres of ground, Steven said, and the store is expected to bring in up to 35 jobs.

"The president of our company really likes drive-thrus. It's something our competitors don't offer, so whenever we have enough property, he would like to add a drive-thru," he said.

The estimated job cost is $2.3 million, said Michele Astarb, subdivision administrator for Augusta County.

The county is pumped for the new addition.

"We've never seen one like this before," Astarb said.

Sheetz started with the idea of adding drive-thrus to its stores around five years ago, Stevens said. There are about 50 stores with drive-thrus and the first store with a drive-thru was added in Pennsylvania in 2012.

This will make the fourth Sheetz drive-thru in Virginia, the other three are in Woodstock, Zion Crossroads and one opening up soon in Powhatan.

According to Astarb, there will be a menu and order board at the beginning of a 120-foot-long lane.

People order from the board and they can ask for anything in the store — except alcohol and lottery tickets — and it will be brought right to their car window, Stevens said. From a gallon of milk, a pack of gum to made-to-order food, all can be delivered car-side.

"It's a convenience drive-thru, meaning it isn't like McDonalds drive-thru," he said. "People driving in bad weather, or have kids in the car, you can go to the window you can order drinks, food or anything in the store. You can order it and get it through the window."

Sheetz also offers a mobile app that could factor in to the drive-thru, but Stevens wasn't sure of how it would work as of yet.

David Karaffa, Augusta County Supervisor for the Beverley Manor District, said the county is excited for the addition and any new business that may come from Sheetz locating in Draft.

"(Stuarts Draft) has been and up and coming area in the county," he said.

New businesses moving to Stuarts Draft have all been stepping stones, Karaffa said. Stuarts Draft will also be home to a new Augusta Health Urgent Care Center this year.

"It would definitely be a step in the direction of more business in Stuarts Draft," he said.

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