Sheetz opens 500th convenience store

ALTOONA — The Pennsylvania-based Sheetz convenience store chain is looking to double its store total after opening its 500th location.

Sheetz executives cut a ceremonial ribbon Tuesday at the Altoona company’s latest location in Thomasville, North Carolina.

They’re now planning for 750 stores and eventually 1,000.

Founder Bob Sheetz says he never envisioned the chain’s growth when he opened the first store in 1952. The 80-year-old tells the newspaper he dreamed of owning 100 stores.

There are about 152,000 convenience stores nationwide.

Sheetz executives say they’re planning to expand within the six states where they’re currently operating; Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.

House vote set for state liquor plan

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering another proposal to privatize the operations of much of the state-run wine and liquor store system.

The state House of Representatives plans a vote Thursday on a Republican-backed proposal that would close most of the 600 stores and sell about 1,200 licenses for retail sales of wine and liquor.

Grocery stores would be able to sell wine, but not hard liquor. The House session begins at 10 a.m.

A similar bill passed the House two years ago. It was opposed by Democrats and died in the Senate, despite support from then-Gov. Tom Corbett, also a Republican.