For those thinking things would slow down at the White Oaks development, there’s still plenty of room for growth. And another part of that growth started this week and got its unofficial start last week.

 

On July 26, a building permit for $1.64 million was acquired from the Bridgeport Community Development Office. The permit was acquired by BFS Foods and it is part of a new convenience store, gas station just off of Interstate 79 at the Saltwell exit.

 

The new building, which will cover 6,700 square feet, will be situated beside the Circle K at the same exit. The portion of White Oaks, according to Bridgeport Community Development Director Randy Spellman, is part of the development’s south wedge.

 

Not only will the building have the usual wares featured inside and six pumps – totaling 12 dispensers including diesel – on the outside, there will also be a touchless car wash. And BFS Construction Manager John Feathers said the building will also house a Burger King Restaurant that includes a drive through. This will all be situated on a 1.45 acre plot.

 

“The BFS store and the Burger King will all be enclosed,” said Feathers, who noted that the restaurant will be owned KB Fast Foods, LLC. “We’re actually looking at opening the first week of December.”

 

What that means is an extremely aggressive construction timeline. Feathers said it’s not unusual.

 

“I’ve worked for the company for two years, but worked on the construction of them for the company for almost 10 now so this is the norm,” he said.

 

The company has dozens of BFS locations. They are located in multiple states, he said.

 

What could be even better news is that Feathers disclosed that the company owns two more plots in the same area. One plot covers 1.311 acres, while the other covers 2.65 acres.

 

“We’re looking to expand onto those sites with another restaurant franchise or perhaps even a strip mall. Nothing is in the works at the moment, but that is planned for future development,” said Feathers.

 

Feathers said survey work and other site work started early in the week. The initial phase of the building pads began Thursday. Commercial Builders out of Morgantown are the contractors, while Fairmont’s Omni Associates is the architect.

 

Spellman is aware that some individuals may question why another facility similar to what’s in place will be going in at that location. He said what’s taking place isn’t the exception, but the norm in development – particularly along an interstate.

 

“What happens along the interstate systems is you have what are convenience stops. You usually have restaurants, hotels, places to get gasoline and you have convenience stores,” said Spellman. “You can hop off the interstate, meet your needs and then continue.

 

“When you have one of these locating off of an exit, usually more will follow,” he continued. “That’s not just the trend up and down the interstate system here in West Virginia, but it’s the trend across the country.”

 

This will be the third business where gasoline and other items can be purchased off the exit. The BFS will join the Circle K and the long-existing Exxon that is at the intersection of Route 131 and Saltwell.