State-of-the-art RaceTrac Planned for Spring Road
Locally headquartered petroleum company wants to build its largest store at the intersection of Spring Road and Bell Drive.
Operating nearly 600 retail gasoline convenience stores in a dozen states, RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc., is Georgia’s third-largest private company. But the Smyrna-based company is looking to be put its top-of-the-line signature store smack in its very backyard at the corner of Spring Road and Bell Drive.
“This will be our flagship store,’’ said RaceTrac Real Estate Representative Meredith McElveen. “This is something that we and the community are going to be proud of.’’
A few years ago the company was headquartered in the Highlands Industrial Park in Smyrna before relocating to a new office building near Cumberland Mall. Now they want to build a state-of-the-art showcase store just down the street.
A standard RaceTrac, such as the one on South Cobb Drive, features 20 to 24 fueling positions and a 5,000 square-foot or larger convenience store. The new modernized store off Spring Road is projected to approach 6,500 square feet and will feature a larger selection of fresh food items.
“We’re going for a more market concept,’’ McElveen said. “It will be a place where people can come in and get everything thing they need; a one-stop shop.’’
But it will not be a destination spot according to Smyrna City Councilwoman Melleny Pritchett.
“Our traffic engineer, city engineer and RaceTrac’s traffic engineer have worked out the intersection plans so it won’t be a delay for the people on Bell Drive,’’ said Pritchett at an informal meeting this week where area residents were invited to ask questions and learn more about the new store. “It’s going to be a pass-by for people to get gas on their way to work. I told (RaceTrac officials) that if we’re going to have a store on Spring Road coming into Smyrna, it’s got to be special, and it will. I’m very excited.’’
The plans are for the proposed store to go before the Smyrna Planning and Zoning Board on May 9 and then the Smyrna Mayor and City Council the following week. If all goes well with subsequent reviews and permitting, groundbreaking could take place in early fall with a possible late-year store opening.
The new store would replace a pair of older buildings that have served as day care centers through the years.
“There’s been nobody to inquire about the property and I get calls all the time saying ‘can’t you do something about those horrible buildings,’’’ Pritchett said. “This is our chance.’’
And it’s RaceTrac’s opportunity to continue its mission to be one of the leading gasoline and convenience marketers in the industry. A similarly designed store is also planned for the intersection of South Cobb Drive and the East-West Connector on the site of the former Home Depot Landscape Supply store.
“These will be a lot bigger stores than people are accustomed to seeing from RaceTrac,’’ McElveen said. “We’re doing all new stack stone trying to make the outside look like a market. It’s a brand new design and a brand new market concept that we think people will like.’’
mary kirkendoll
5:25 pm on Friday, April 15, 2011
BIGGER grocery stores, BIGGER gas stations, WIDER roads, WIDER sidewalks! GEEZ,...Smyrna really is the ugliest city w/in 50 miles of Atlanta!
Cameron Turner
7:03 pm on Friday, April 15, 2011
Alright, being new here, I'm going to try to get a feel for everyone. How about a QuikTrip at Vinings Jubilee? That doesn't seem to be too bad. Also, ugliest city within 50 miles of Atlanta. Wow. Austell, Norcross, Fairburn, Scottdale, Mableton, Conley, Morrow, Lilburn, Jonesboro, I mean, I could go on. I'm guessing Smyrna has wronged you in some way? Perhaps you bought in Smyrna Heights prior to 2007? I've read some of your posts on the Publix development and I understand your reasoning. I don't want to get off on the wrong foot, but the area is undergoing gentrification and you have to give it some time. The housing collapse is slowing the process to a crawl, but even Decatur had to start somewhere (30030 - not 30032).
mary kirkendoll
7:31 am on Saturday, April 16, 2011
There is no MINDFULNESS w/ this city council. Smyrna is still in the late '70's style city planning.
Yes , there is a QT @ Vinings Jublilee But @ least , there IS a Vinings Jubilee.
I do recall, there was a big fight in Cobbs Commission meetings to stop that QT, but the developer won. And yes, it does sit in the middle of Vinings as an eyesore. It should have been located @ Cumberland Blvd/285.
Spring Road (SHOULD HAVE) been a gateway to a livable city. Its turning into a big box treeless speedway.
The news you'll NEVER read in Smyrna is ..
Smyrna turns Spring /Concord Rd. into pedestrian friendly hub, in hopes to DISCOURAGE CUT-THROUGH traffic & preserve some of its neighborhoods. First change you'll see will be (2nd set of sidewalks) turned into ONLANE street bike lanes,w/ new sylish city directionals to the Silver Comet Trail.
In addition there will be new code standdards for trails/sidewalks. Some of the Concord 20 MILLION will demolish cement brige & build a state of the are suspension bridge!
There must be 5 foot tree & landscape buffer between road & sidewalks, w/ shade tree every 20 feet. Street furniture/new modern bus wait stations w/ bike racks,/ planters/benches & public art will be designed by the citizens. New codes go into effect to keep all projects over 20 acres to include some form of MIXED USE! The Publix is moving to Belmont Hills! City leaders are negotiating w/ Trader Joes.
A Race Trac to be built on Cobb Parkway !
THERE IS A BETTER WAY
Milly Miller
4:02 pm on Tuesday, April 19, 2011
I must have missed something, you consider Trader Joes an upgrade to Publix?
Charles Klughart
6:25 pm on Saturday, April 16, 2011
Coffee cup ready for a refill, can't wait for the new store,
Donna Short-Woodham
5:52 pm on Sunday, April 17, 2011
Is this the new public commons a place where all smyrna citizens can gather, friends REV
Coffee house is the 2011 public commons. People can sit in a comfortable chair and do something or nothing while sipping coffee. Ms Pritchett needs to be reminded what race track really is. It is a big gulp hot pocket place. This mega gas station will be yards away from a elementary school. The first place these kids will go before and after school is big gulp land, obesity and diabetes is out of control amongst very young children. Also Ms. Pritchett smyrna just completed a bike path on spring street, shouldn't we be encouraging biking not driving in that part of town. Why don,t we see what the east west connector racetra ck is going to look like. I have a feeling it want be as special as you think . I have never had a problem getting gas or food anywhere in smyrna we don,t need another gas station/grocery store on spring. Once again the mayor and council (if they should approve this Race Track) have no concerns on the economic effects on nearby businesses that were there first. This sounds like RaceTrack wants to do what WallMart has done to small mom and pop companies in the past which is drive them out of business. Is this Ms.Pritchett legacy, for generations to come we can drive by the mega RaceTrack and say wow Ms. Pritchett had vision. I am so proud that I can shop till I drop in a RaceTrack. Thank,s Ms. Pritchett my grocery bag awaits to be filled.
Donna Short-Woodham
7:01 pm on Sunday, April 17, 2011
http://www.farmersatlantaroadmarket.org/Home_Page.html
Ms.Pritchett please go to this website and see what fresh food looks like.
Donna Short-Woodham
5:10 pm on Monday, April 18, 2011
Race Track is going to lower home values. This is negative gentrification. Positive gentrification is the new Concord Bike Path and Soccer Field. How about an after school program facility? This is the kind of legacy that the Smyrna citizens need now.
mary kirkendoll
8:16 pm on Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Milly Miller, yes!!!, Trader Joes would be an upgrade for the Smyrna area. Its got a cult following.
It helps bring in a younger , vibrant crowd to the neighborhood.
It's a great t place for humus, crackers , organic fruits & veggies & the BEST frozen food section in town!! (plus @ a bigger savings than Publix!)
Publix is not bad,... it's just bad for that corner in Smyrna.
Don't you think 3 Publix w/in several miles is plenty? Then add to that , the soon to be built LARGEST Kroger in Atlanta?
I guess it just seems like time for more options in the Smyrna area!
Mike
8:51 am on Wednesday, April 20, 2011
As an auto enthusiast I rarely buy racetrack petrol. As a resident of Smyrna I think its great this local business is trying to usher in a new vision of their gas stations here. The Shell on Spring Rd is dilapidated and there are so many random people just hanging out there I stopped going and I much prefer V-power. The QT on spring rd has a great location but is small and many times packed where you have to wait for gas.
Kids will be kids. There is a shopping center and Shell next to the school already. The Shell is literally next door so if they want snacks and candy it is already there to buy. Sometimes I think some of you complain just to complain.
The next gas station is the BP which is very well lit and has ample pumps and looks good and I find myself going there more often lately.
My favorite gas station is the Shell on Cobb Parkway which you can get to cutting through Smyrna Village. Very bright, very clean. That said this RaceTrac looks to be something special and I welcome it.
mary kirkendoll
7:15 am on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
A beutifully designed city is Norcross in Gwinnett. The downtown area is an awesome mixture of old storefronts, resturants, shopes & businesses. The downtown grid is laid out so nice, there are two main parks, Thrasher (which has trees , covered gazebos & gardens), then there's the Lillian Webb Park (filled w/ waterfalls, beautiful stone work & a water park),All the streets are slow speeds, so biking is easy, as well as safe for families & children to walk to parks. The neighborhoods are all connected to the downtown area. The city hall building is a'green' building, w/ no lights shining on it. There is a huge PROTECTED elm tree in the front of city hall. The city hall grounds are surrounded by walking paths & natural areas. The old historic home that houses the Norcross Garden Club is across the street. They work very close w/ 'Sustainable Norcross' that has obtained a LEEDS certificate for the city . This year, they are going for a higher LEEDS certificate .As we were enjoying strolling through the cities BLOSSOM festival, we met many people that are involved w/ making Norcross a great place to live & open a business. Norcross is sandwiched in between to main corridors, Peachtree Industrial & Buford Hwy. P.Ind. houses many of Norcrosses new & existing businesses. Buford Hwy. is undergoing streetscaping & revitilization. Norcross downtown remains quaint & walkable & has no plans to WIDEN the downtown streets. They UNDERSTAND how it would negatively effect the city.