ALBANY — ShopRite is joining the discount gas game, buying an existing Mobil store to convert it into its first Capital Region station.
The supermarket chain will own the gas station at 651 Central Ave., which is closed for renovations, new fixtures and a new facade. The 16-pump station will offer discounts to holders of the chain’s Price Plus Club card when it reopens in early September.
“It’s a stone’s throw from our store on Central Avenue,” said Tom Urtz, vice president of human resources and community affairs for ShopRite.
The chain is actively seeking to acquire other stations, Urtz said.
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Price Chopper has a similar discount program, Fuel AdvantEdge, which offers savings at gas stations throughout the Capital Region and beyond.
“We’ve got a network of nearly 90 stations just in the Capital Region,” said Price Chopper spokeswoman Mona Golub.
While most are Sunoco stations, there are also a dozen participating Mobils and some Stewart’s Shops that participate, and they are spread throughout the region to be easily accessible to customers. She declined to discuss ShopRite’s entry into the market.
When the village of Colonie approved a ShopRite supermarket and gas station at 1730 Central Ave. in March, one stipulation was that the chain could not offer discount gas until it was available at other stations. Village leaders were concerned that if the 14-pump station there was the sole one offering discounts, customers from other ShopRite stores would drive there for gas.