BURRILLVILLE – The much anticipated opening of two popular local businesses inside a Chapel Street convenience store remains uncertain as we head into 2025, following unsuccessful efforts by the owner of the property to secure the needed permits from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
Village Gas owner Zeshan Abid purchased the gas station and accompanying buildings at 172 Chapel St. from former owner Robert Depalo for $2.3 million in October of 2023. In the months that followed, Abid began renovating the space, including an auto repair shop previously known as Eagle Motors, which was reopened as Village Motors.
Another business in the small plaza relocated, and the convenience store more than doubled in size, with dividing walls removed to create a modern, spacious-looking shop. The Sunoco station at the front of the lot marked the fifth location for Abid’s Village Gas, with additional stations in Smithfield, Scituate and Foster, and he began collaborating with the owners of two more locally-owned businesses to open inside his new Burrillville space.
NRI NOW‘s story on the effort was among our most popular in 2024, with locals welcoming the news that equipment, countertops and even signage were already in place for satellite locations of Brewology and Fresh Pita.
First opened at Apply Valley Plaza in Smithfield in 2022, Brewology serves up coffee and espresso drinks, along with smoothies, shakes and breakfast items. The owners of the coffee shop worked with Abid to open their second location at his Sunoco station on Pleasant View Avenue in Smithfield in 2023.
Yelda and Isa Nuay opened Fresh Pita on Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence in 2018, and currently run a popular business serving up mediterranean foods including homemade falafel, kabobs, salads, burgers and more at 777 Putnam Pike in Smithfield.
When NRI NOW visited the Burrillville space in August, the effort to open both satellite shops was well underway, with logos for the popular restaurants already installed inside the Village Gas convenience store.
But it seems locals will still have to wait for the businesses to open in Burrillville.
According to Planner Ray Goff, the delay has been caused by sewer approvals from RIDEM. The area is not currently served by the town’s sewer system, and Abid is hoping to enact a temporary solution with septic holding tanks.
RIDEM, Goff said, wants to first know how long it will be before the long-hoped-for project – installation of sewer lines on Chapel Street – will be complete.
“He’s been back and forth with them and me,” Goff said.
The effort, Goff noted, involves crossing over the Clear River and the town has already been approved for some grant funding from the RI Infrastructure Bank to complete the work.
“The town has done some engineering and design work,” he said.
But after boring down into the ground, town officials learned the area is virtually all ledge.
“That requires more engineering work and more money,” said Goff. “There’s lots of factors that come into play.”
Abid, meanwhile, has continued his efforts to expand his local gas station/convenience store model, recently appearing before the North Smithfield Planning Board with a similar proposal for a property on Eddie Dowling Highway.
Goff said that it is still unclear when the owner will get the needed approvals to move the Burrillville project forward. Extending the sewer lines, he said could take three to five years – or even ten.
“He’s going to need to do the holding tank before we get all this done,” Goff said.
“We’re itching to get it done,” he added. “We just need a little extra money.”
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