Sheetz store at Memorial Drive and Pierce Avenue is now open after Wednesday celebration

LANCASTER − The mystery of what was going on at Memorial Drive and Pierce Avenue is solved.

"The answer is clear," Mayor Don McDaniel said. "Sheetz is here."

City resident Angelique Dougan was certainly glad to get that answer. Sheetz held its grand opening Wednesday and she had never been to a Sheetz before. It was literally her lucky day, as she won a $250 gift card as part of the opening day celebration.

"I think it's awesome," she said. "I think it's going to be great. I mean, 250 bucks. That's going to help out a lot."

Dougan said she would be a regular Sheetz customer. She will no doubt not be alone, as the entire Sheetz lot was packed with vehicles and people for the morning celebration.

Casey Evoy is the new store's hospitality manager.

"Sheetz started out in Altoona, Pennsylvania," she said. "It started out as just a small family business. I am originally from Pennsylvania and actually grew up with Sheetz. So it's kind of cool to see how it's grown into other states."

A Jimmy John's sub shop was once open on the property Sheetz now resides on. The Lancaster opening comes after the company opened a store at 8265 Diley Road in Canal Winchester in May.

Sheetz operates more than 720 stores across Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland, with all locations open 24/7, 365 days a year., including Christmas.

"One of the things we like to say is we are a restaurant that sells gas," Evoy said. "We consider our food high-quality food. We are a convenience store as well. But we consider our food to be a step above or a little bit better than your average gas station."

Vice President of Strategy and IT Emily Sheetz said she couldn't wait to see how the store and crew do here. She said the company wants to build a relationship with the local community.

"It's so wonderful to be here with you in Lancaster and get to meet officials from Lancaster and from our other relationships with the community as well," Sheetz said. "But first, always No. 1 is our customers."

jbarron@gannett.com

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Twitter/X: @JeffDBarron