Gas station purchased, and plans underway for renovation

Photos and story by Michael J. Billoni

Location. Location. Location. That is the mantra of those in real estate – and for Tim Boyle, the northeast corner of Ransom Road and Stony Point on Grand Island is a location he has eyed for years.

Boyle is vice president of real estate for M.F. Newman Properties LLC, whose president is Michael Newman. His family owns NOCO Energy Corp. and, for nearly 40 years, owned the NOCO-branded convenience stores before selling the fuel terminal in the Town of Tonawanda and 33 company-owned NOCO Express stores to Marathon Petroleum Corp. (which branded the stores as Speedway).

Boyle knows Grand Island well, as a former NOCO Express store was located at Whitehaven and Grand Island Boulevard. Another subsidiary of the company, NOCO Dealer LLC had provided fuel to the Grand Island Market at 1441 Ransom Road before it closed several years ago.

M.F. Newman Properties now acquires properties with independently owned gas stations and convenience stores and finds tenants to operate them while it provides them with the fuel.

Boyle confirmed this week M. F. Newman Properties has purchased the Grand Island property for $710,000.

“We are excited to have acquired the property. This is a great opportunity for our company, because it is a phenomenal location on Grand Island,” he said of the 1.3-acre property during a telephone interview.

“I am very happy to hear the gas station and convenience store is going to be open again,” said Town Supervisor John C. Whitney, P.E. “We are a vibrant community. Closed stores, empty shops and abandoned facilities are not what Grand Island is about. We need more reopenings like this, and the town will assist in any way we can.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has stalled what was to be an early May opening, because the site cannot have more than one contractor working at a time. When the state allows contractors back to work, Boyle said the company will continue to renovate the store, fuel tanks and property around it.

“It will look pristine when we are done with it,” he noted.

Boyle said they have identified a well-established dealer, who currently operates multiple sites within its system, to run the convenience store and fuel business. He said the store will also include an area for prepared food for sit down or takeout service. The previous owner had a Marco’s Deli inside.

Boyle could not elaborate further about the dealer who will operate the store, but did say it will continue to be called The Grand Island Market, and Sunoco will supply the fuel. The familiar gold, blue and red Sunoco brand will soon be installed on the tanks and canopy.