While Sheetz plans to open its new rebuilt store at 25th Avenue and Juniata Gap Road at 8 a.m. Thursday, the service station on the other side of the road will stop selling gasoline later this month.

Sheetz plans to open its 4,913-square-foot store with eight fuel pumps and a drive-thru aisle, which replaces an existing store, spokesman Nick Ruffner said.

The former Sheetz store closed in February, and an M&T Bank that had used to be part of the building closed last October.

“We are excited to welcome back our customers,” Ruffner said.

Meanwhile, Mallow’s Service Center plans to shut down its gasoline pumps on Aug. 29 after pumping gas at the site since 1947, said John Mallow, one of six partners who own the business.

Mallow said there were several factors for the decision.

“Sunoco has mandated getting some new equipment and it is pretty costly. At my age (70), I don’t want to take on an output of that magnitude,” Mallow said. “I am tired of fighting the competition. This is (Sheetz’s) third or fourth rebuild at the same location. They’ve had to spend a lot of money to put me out of business. Since Rutter’s moved into the area, they have low balled prices and to keep up, Sheetz has stayed with them.”

Mallow, who started working at the family business as a teenager, said stopping gasoline sales is both a blessing and a curse.

“We were among the last of the full-service stations, where people pumped gas, checked your oil and cleaned your windshield. Now, there are gas stations that are convenience stores with gas pumps. They are more into sandwiches than checking oil,” Mallow said. “Personally, I will miss the people. I’ve helped people for three generations.”

Mallow’s will continue to operate the garage for vehicle repairs, as well as the neighboring Mallow’s Hardware. Both businesses are part of Mallow’s Service Centers Inc.

“On the hardware side, we are fine. Our business came back 30 percent better,” partner Dave Mallow said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.