HELLERTOWN, Pa. – A chain offering gas, made-to-order food and drinks and various convenience items continues to expand its footprint in the Lehigh Valley.
Sheetz, the Blair County-based chain with more than 830 locations across seven states, is planning to open its ninth Lehigh Valley location next week at Main Street (Route 412) and Kichline Ave. in Hellertown.
A new Sheetz location is coming soon to Main Street (Route 412) and Kichline Ave. in Hellertown.
Ryan Kneller
“Sheetz’s new store on Main Street in Hellertown is scheduled to open to the public at 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 16,” said Nick Ruffner, Sheetz’s public affairs manager, in a written statement.
“To celebrate the opening, Sheetz will host a grand opening event on July 22, bringing together hundreds of residents, representatives from community nonprofits and elected officials.”
The new gas station and convenience store will operate across from the Interstate 78 East on- and off-ramps at Route 412.
The site was previously home to Star Pre-owned of Hellertown, a car dealership that was demolished last year.
Sheetz, founded by Bob Sheetz in 1952 in Altoona, Blair County, aims to offer “kicked-up convenience while being more than just a convenience store,” according to a company description.
A new Sheetz location is coming soon to Main Street (Route 412) and Kichline Ave. in Hellertown.
Ryan Kneller
The company is known for its made-to-order food, including burgers, chicken sandwiches, burritos and appetizers, and specialty drinks such as cold-brew coffee, lattes, smoothies and milkshakes.
Sheetz operates more than 830 locations across Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland and Michigan, with all locations open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
In April, Sheetz announced plans to enter the state of Indiana, marking a significant step in the company’s long-term Midwest growth plans.
“Sheetz will open its first stores in the state in the greater Indianapolis area next year,” a news release states. “Overall, Sheetz plans to build 100 store locations over the next 10 years in Indiana, investing nearly $1 billion and resulting in the creation of more than 3,000 long-term jobs. Specific locations and opening dates for Sheetz’s initial sites will be announced as the development process advances.”
A new Sheetz location is coming soon to Main Street (Route 412) and Kichline Ave. in Hellertown.
Ryan Kneller
The new Hellertown location will be Sheetz’s ninth Lehigh Valley location, supplementing other locations on Lehigh Street in Allentown, East Fourth Street in Bethlehem, Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem, MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township, Trexlertown Road in Upper Macungie Township, Nazareth Road in Palmer Township, Trolley Line Drive in Palmer Township and Golden Key Road in Weisenberg Township.
It will operate less than two miles from the two-year-old location on East Fourth Street in south Bethlehem.
Another local Sheetz location is planned for the Saucon Valley Square shopping center on Route 378 in Lower Saucon Township.
Sheetz is continuing to expand its footprint in the Lehigh Valley, with Upper Macungie Township supervisors in February granting conditional use approval for a new convenience store and gas station in the township.
The proposal calls for an auto service station with accessory convenience store and drive-up window service on two vacant parcels at 871 N. Route 100 and 7535 Tilghman St. with access onto Route 100 and Tilghman Street.
The new Hellertown location will operate next to a new Lehigh Valley Health Network neighborhood hospital, which is expected to open later this year on the site of the former Champion spark plug factory.
The LVHN project is a three-story, 90,000-square-foot building, with the hospital occupying the first floor and medical offices on the two upper floors, according to a release by LVHN.