The Hyannis, Mass.-based chain's owner, Christy Mihos, said he is pleased with the new business partnership and expects to be able to offer customers lower prices after the switch. In July 2007, Christy's changed gasoline brands from CITGO to Gulf.
(Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage.)
Currently, however, the locations sell either Exxon or privately branded gasoline, said the report. The Gulf Oil website lists no Christy's locations among its stations.
Meanwhile, Mihos is moving ahead with plans to renovate a former Mobil station on Route 6A in Dennis, Mass., and reopen it as a Christy's location, the newspaper said. The plan has been the subject of some controversy in Dennis, with the town receiving more than 30 letters opposing the intended renovation. Some cited traffic concerns; others worried that competition from the chain location would damage local mom-and-pop businesses.
Mihos signaled his intention to withdraw the proposal. But then the town received a petition with 161 signatures in support of the planned Christy's, and the application was back on. The plan was discussed at a planning board meeting Monday night, Dennis Town Planner Daniel Fortier told the paper. Some minor conditions for acceptance were put in place, and the board will vote on the plan February 9.
And in late December, Christy's agreed to pay for improvements to sidewalks and crosswalks at the downtown rotary as part of its proposal to convert the Chatham (Mass.) Mobil station to a c-store, reported the Chronicle.
Pedestrian traffic is likely to increase at the site because of the new store, which will also sell self-service gasoline. A traffic study commissioned by Christy's showed that the c-store won't increase vehicle traffic at the busy downtown rotary, but will draw its business from those who would already be passing by.
Christy's said it plans to convert the site, which has been a service station for more than 60 years, into a c-store/gas station, remodeling the building to eliminate the service bays. The canopy over the gasoline dispensers will be altered based on "strong guidance" from the historic business district commission, according to Christy's attorney William Litchfield, scaling it back by eliminating a section that connects the canopy to the main building and reducing its height and width. The peak of the canopy will be reduced by almost four feet, he said.
Green space at the site will be increased, including a 20-foot buffer along one side of the property, Litchfield told the paper. Parking will be shifted to the west side of the property. There will be 24 parking spaces, three more than required by the zoning bylaw.
A previous proposal to include a Dunkin' Donuts coffee shop was eliminated, Litchfield added.
Christy's has agreed to commit $20,000 to the improvements, said the report.
Mihos was an Independent challenger to now-Governor Deval Patrick in 2006. Mihos said he will run again in 2010.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.