Sheetz to open first Wilmington-area location next week with freebies

A Mid-Atlantic restaurant and convenience chain will open its first location in the Wilmington area next week.

Sheetz announced it would hold a grand opening for local residents to celebrate the opening of the store's first location in the area. Here's what you need to know.

Where is the store?

The store is located at 17000 U.S. 17 in Hampstead.

When will the store open?

Sheetz announced in a news release Wednesday the store will officially open on Tuesday, July 9. On that day, the store will hold a grand opening celebration.

The store will open to the public at 8 a.m.

What will the day hold?

Through the day, customers will be welcomed with free self-serve coffee and soda.

The grand-opening festivities will begin at 9 a.m. outside the store. According to Sheetz, many prizes will be awarded through the day, including a grand prize of free Sheetz for a year. The grand prize, the release specifies, will be in the form of a $2,500 Sheetz gift card.

The retailer will donate $2,500 to Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, and is encouraging attendees to donate a non-perishable food item to the nonprofit. Those who do so between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. will receive a Sheetz-branded item, while supplies last.

Sheetz will also be donating $2,500 to the Special Olympics of North Carolina during the event.

What is Sheetz?

Sheetz is a fast-growing, family-owned and operated convenience store chain. The company was established in 1952 in Pennsylvania.

Sheetz operates over 730 locations across North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland.

Reach reporter Jamey Cross at jbcross@gannett.com.