By Thomas J. Sullivan–
A former ARCO gasoline station at the northeast corner of Auburn Boulevard and Cook Avenue in Citrus Heights is scheduled to soon reopen as a Union 76 station.
The station’s new owner, Mike Marcos, told The Sentinel this week that the new station will open on or about Feb. 15, with new signage, re-labeled fuel bays and a remodeled 1,500-square-foot convenience store. He said the station has been vacant for over two years.
“It’s a great location and we expect to pump between 80 and 100,000 gallons at this location per month,” said Marcos, who owns four gas stations. Three of his stations are located in the greater Sacramento area, but this will be his first station in Citrus Heights.
The station, located at 7500 Auburn Boulevard, was built in 1959 and features 12 fuel dispensers. Marcos said installation of new exterior Union 76 signage should begin soon, along with installation of a new closed-circuit surveillance security system.
An ABC liquor license was submitted to the city on Jan. 25 to allow the sale of beer and wine at the convenience store on the premises. Marcos said the gas station will still open as scheduled, although sales of alcoholic beverages at the convenience store will be postponed until the ABC license is approved.
The prior ARCO gas station that operated at the location abruptly closed several years ago for unknown reasons.
Editor’s note: This story was written by Thomas J. Sullivan, who has joined the Citrus Heights Sentinel as a general assignment reporter. Sullivan moved to Citrus Heights in August 2018 from Pacifica, Calif., and is a former reporter turned classroom teacher. Sullivan will be working the small business and commercial real estate beat, as well as writing feature stories.
Since leaving the Bay Area, Sullivan says he’s thoroughly enjoying getting to know the community here. In addition to his reporting duties, Sullivan is also an active substitute teacher in the San Juan Unified School District. He has taught history and social science in the middle and high school levels.
He has written for business and legal weekly newspapers including the Arizona Business Gazette, San Diego Business Journal and San Diego Daily Transcript in his professional writing career. The enlisted Navy veteran of the 1991 Gulf War earned his B.A. degree in journalism in 1978 from the University of Rhode Island.
We welcome Thomas to the staff of the Citrus Heights Sentinel and sincerely thank our subscribers for making this possible.
