A new-and-improved Kwik Trip store, planned for an expanded area at the corner of South First Avenue and Front Street, won approval Thursday from the Albert Lea Planning Commission.

Monday, July 16, 2001

A new-and-improved Kwik Trip store, planned for an expanded area at the corner of South First Avenue and Front Street, won approval Thursday from the Albert Lea Planning Commission.

Construction on the larger store will begin this August, once the existing store is demolished, said Scott Teigen, director of real estate for Kwik Trip stores. The building project will take about two months.

&uot;We’re really looking forward to getting started on this store. It’s going to be a big improvement and will offer our customers a lot more,&uot; he told the commission.

The new store, which is almost twice as big as the existing store, will be realigned to face South First Avenue, said City Planner Bob Graham. Two lines of gas pumps will sit in front of the store on the site of the old C-Mart gas station and bait shop. The new layout also features an entrance driveway off of South First Avenue.

&uot;That should help alleviate some of the congestion at that intersection,&uot; Graham said. &uot;I think that is one major benefit.&uot;

The redeveloped Kwik Trip location will offer nine two-sided pumps, compared to the current location’s two. The store itself will have aisle space, an expanded fountain wall, coffee bar and grill area.

&uot;It’s the kind of Kwik Trip that we’re going to at a lot of our more successful current locations. It’s a prototype of the new bigger Kwik Trips,&uot; Teigen said.

During construction, Teigen said all existing fuel tanks will be excavated and replaced. The project should actually increase property values in the area, he said.

&uot;This is going to really look nice and fit right in with the neighborhood,&uot; he said.

The city council will consider the planning commission’s recommendation July 23, Graham said.