“It was wonderful to know that when we had one company going out of business, we had somebody coming right in doing a redevelopment in that area, instead of seeing a building sitting empty,” Urbana Economic Development Coordinator Marcia Bailey said. “Having a new building with beautiful landscaping at a corridor entry into the city is always a value.”
The new Valero is owned by the N&G Takhar Oil Company.
“We already have (a Clark station on Scioto Street) in the town, so we thought we would open another one with a convenience store,” said owner Amarjit Singh. “And the location is good. We noticed there are four or five factories (nearby).”
The project is indicative of business expansion in Urbana, Bailey said, and of Singh, who has upgraded his Scioto Street property as well and made that station into a well-maintained facility.
“We have a lot of small business in our community,” she said. “There’s a lot of people … in our community that have made a success of being an entrepreneur.”
City Zoning Officer Pam Babjack said a great deal of work was involved in making the project a reality. The business had to go to the Board of Zoning Appeals for approval of its signage and other improvements.
“It’s a huge impact on the community. It serves so many businesses in that area. There’s a tremendous amount of traffic in that area.”
Singh says his company supplies the fuel to the station, which is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m daily. The new, 2,400-square-foot business includes a drive-through window and eight new gas pumps, all of which are self-serve.
“These days, customers want a one-stop,” Singh said, “so if you need something, it’s more convenient.”
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