Albertson's drives into convenience store business

A plaza with gas pumps and a kiosk is under construction in Pinellas Park. It's the county's second.

By SHARON BOND

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 27, 2000

PINELLAS PARK -- The Albertson's grocery here is one of two in the Tampa Bay area and only four in Florida with the new fuel centers -- gas pumps and a kiosk selling basics.

Gas and food to go, Albertson's advertises it.

The six gas pumps and 90-square-foot kiosk are under construction at the store at 4701 Park Blvd. They are being built in the front corner of the Albertson's lot just off Park. The grocery sits farther back, behind the parking spaces.

A spokeswoman for Albertson's, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, said the fuel center will open in March.

Albertson's started adding gas pumps to its stores in 1997 to make itself more convenient for customers and now has 76 in 19 states. The other Albertson's fuel center in the Tampa Bay area is in Clearwater.

In some areas, the fuel centers have eight pumps and small convenience stores up to 2,000 square feet in size rather than kiosks. The larger stores sell fountain drinks and food such as hot dogs and nachos. The kiosks sell more basic items, such as oil for vehicles.

The fuel centers will sell gasoline from major oil companies, according to Albertson's.

Pinellas Park has a number of gasoline stations along Park Boulevard. In fact, a large Spur station is right across Park from the new Albertson's pumps.

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