Gas station to replace closed Vandalia restaurant

VANDALIA –A Shell gas station will be built on the site of the former Friendly’s restaurant here.

Friendly's abruptly closed all its Dayton locations on Nov. 2014.

The Shell station has now purchased the lot and begun demolition of the old restaurant to build a new, larger True North Shell gas station in its place at the corner of Helke Road and East National Road. The current Shell will remain open until further notice.

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The new station had to get approval from the city, including a variance to a city code specifying that gas stations may not be within 200 feet of residential housing. The existing store is 150 feet away, but the closest gas pump is 209 feet away. The new store will reduce that distance to 203 feet.

Also, there will be three curb entrances/exits to the new station. One will be located on Helke, while the other two will be on National, creating more traffic flow.

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CASEY LAUGHTER

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