By Barbara Brewer La Mere
Construction projects for Stewart’s Shops
are underway for the season.
Stewart’s spokesperson Maria D’Amelia
says the company has plans for a dozen or so
larger projects, some of which have received
final approval in their respective municipalities,
with others nearing approval.
The first new shop of the current Stewart’s
construction season will be located at Routes
7 and 145 in Cobleskill. A May kickoff is anticipated
for the project with a July opening
anticipated.
Hilltop Construction of Hudson
Falls is the contractor for the project. It
will include a beer cave, which has been a
popular addition in other Stewart’s Shops, a
sub case, pizza availability, and a gas island
that includes pumps for diesel and kerosene,
D’Amelia said.
The season’s first rebuild of an existing shop is at Western Avenue and Route 146 in Guilderland and is also a Hilltop Construction project.
The chain aims for four to 10 replacement shops per season, said D’Amelia. The Guilderland project, currently underway, includes a larger gas island and adds diesel fuel availability. There will also be a beer cave, additional seating, and restroom additions. D’Amelia said many of the Stewart’s shops will have two, rather than the traditional single restroom.
D’Amelia said the Stillwater shop is getting an upgrade to its gasoline services. The company bought an adjacent lot in order to allow for a bigger gas canopy. Gasoline upgrades are also planned for stores in Amsterdam and Albany.
The Stewart’s at East Line Road in Ballston Spa is scheduled to get a cooler, freezer and flooring upgrades, as well as LED lighting and space for more product. D’Amelia said that project should start in May and be wrapped up in June. Goldstein Construction is the contractor.
A new Stewart’s Shop on Sitterly Road in Clifton Park is still awaiting approval, according to D’Amelia. The company hopes to begin the project this summer. A proposed Luther Forest Stewart’s in Malta is anticipated to be a 2015 project, she said.
The Stewart’s at 112th Street in Troy has been approved for replacement. Stewart’s anticipates planning board approval this month for replacing the shop on Berdeck Street in Rotterdam. The planning board in East Greenbush has yet to rule on the proposed replacement of a Stewart’s in that town.
D’Amelia said there are other local area projects on which it is too early to comment, and other smaller projects such as addition of pizza facilities, which are being carried out by Stewart’s crews. Hot pizzas and slices are not available company wide. Carrying them or not is a shop-by-shop decision, she noted.
She said Stewart’s is excited at the prospect of introducing its shops to customers in the western part of the state as it addresses in May the planning board in Clay, just outside Syracuse.
D’Amelia said the upcoming busy building season reflects “Stewart’s commitment to investing in our community.” In doing so, the company rewards its “great customers” by responding to their input and the input of their employees at each individual shop in order to best serve the customers.