Wave of Wallhaven changes includes Sunoco reboot, plans to open KFC and Aldi

Akron's Wallhaven neighborhood is teeming with development that's returning two familiar brands to the business district and bringing a new grocery to the scene.

A refurbished Sunoco on West Market Street opened under new ownership at the end of June. Meanwhile, construction of a Kentucky Fried Chicken is underway in a lot neighboring the Sunoco. And an Aldi grocery store is planned at Akron's West Market Plaza.

They're part of a wave of change that has included the ongoing relocation of Akron Fire Station No. 12 from 1852 W. Market St. to 112 S. Hawkins Ave. and Los Cabos Mexican Restaurant taking over the former El Rancho Mexican Restaurant space at 1666 W. Exchange St.

Sunoco reopens across from Hardesty Park

The Sunoco gas station and food mart at 1550 W. Market St. reopened the last week of June, said station and store operator Majdi Abdalla. The location, a neighborhood staple previously owned by Steven Catsoulakis and known as Steve's Sunoco, was built in 1950, according to Summit County property tax records.

Abdalla also owns two self-service car washes in Cleveland. He said he worked at gas stations in the early 2010s.

Now, he leases from the property owner of 1550 W. Market St., Mahmoud Sabti of MMS Petroleum. MMS Petroleum owns multiple other gas stations that it leases to business operators, Abdalla said.

"I told him, 'The next opportunity — if you can run it by me, I'm interested.' And that was years ago," Abdalla said. "And finally, we landed one."

The Summit County Fiscal Office records show that Catsoulakis sold the property to MMS Petroleum for $200,000 in March 2023.

Abdalla, who has two employees at the Sunoco, said he orders gas from a supplier that is an intermediary between him and the larger Sunoco business.

He said the store sells snacks, cold beverages, hot coffee, cappuccino and tobacco products. There are no lottery ticket or alcohol sales to allow customers to have a quicker experience compared to other gas station stores, he said.

"Some people think that doesn't make sense, but actually ... it's a different business model," Abdalla said. "You focus on the gas and the product you have."

KFC is coming back to Wallhaven

A Kentucky Fried Chicken will arise at a former banking site at 1546 W. Market St. A KFC spokesperson said the company expects the restaurant to open this November.

County fiscal office records show the property was sold from National City Bank to Mastic, LLC, for $550,000 in May 2022. Mastic, LLC, was incorporated by an agent in Canton, according to Ohio Secretary of State records.

In 2008, Pittsburgh-based PNC acquired Cleveland-based National City Bank, and the 1546 W. Market St. storefront was a PNC branch before the property sale.

The KFC spokesperson said job candidates can apply at kfc.com/careers . According to the KFC website, that location is looking for a general manager, an assistant restaurant manager and a team member.

KFC previously operated a Wallhaven restaurant at 1883 W. Market St. in a spot that is now Imperial Wok.

Aldi coming to Wallhaven's West Market Plaza

Wallhaven's West Market Plaza will see an Aldi at some point. The grocery store is listed as "coming soon" on developer Select Strategies Realty's website .

The Aldi will be just under 21,000 square feet, according to a site plan on the realtor's website.

The plaza also houses Gabe's, Big Lots and Essence Beauty. A separate space just under 11,000 square feet is also available for lease there, according to Select Strategies' website. A Krazy Bins store that opened at the site in 2021 following craft store Pat Catan's exit closed its doors in June 2023.

Select Strategies Executive Vice President Frank Dascenzo, listed as a contact for the plaza, declined to provide comment to the Beacon Journal about the project.

The Beacon could not reach Aldi management for comment.

The plaza was last sold in 2016, according to county fiscal office records. That year, Garrison Central West Market LLC sold the plaza to Select West Market Plaza LLC for $4.8 million.

City of Akron spokeswoman Stephanie Marsh said via email that based on "permits pulled, construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in September." Marsh said the city does not have final permits to share, as the Summit County Division of Building Standards issues them.

Representatives from the Summit County Division of Building Standards and a Summit County spokeswoman were not available for comment on Thursday.

Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Wave of Wallhaven changes includes Sunoco reboot, plans to open KFC and Aldi