By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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MACHESNEY PARK — The former Short Stop Food Mart and liquor store is being remodeled into a new convenience store with grocery items and video gambling.
Pit Stop Convenience and Gaming, located at 7918 Scott Lane at the corner of Scott and Harlem Road, is one of several new businesses taking up residence in the strip center.
Nick Shutkas, the owner of Windsor Auto Sales in Loves Park, took over the former Short Stop space after it was vacant for approximately six months. His team remodeled “the whole thing from floor to ceiling to walls,” he said.
Pit Stop will have bean to cup coffee, slices of pizza and sandwiches, full alcohol sales including beer and wine, frozen foods and other grocery items in 16 cooler doors.
“It’s always been a grocery store, convenience type store,” Shutkas said. “I just know in a 2-mile radius there’s 3,000 house stops there and people were always using it for that convenience.”
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There are also six gaming machines in a sectioned off area of the store.
The convenience store is part of a strip center owned by Ike Trickie that is home to several new businesses. The What Not Shop thrift store opened in the center in March. A&M Essentially You salon opened in September. KML Studio lashes and more opened in January, and Mac Brothers Artisan Cheesecakes is coming soon.
“It’s come a long way, that’s for sure,” Shutkas said.
An opening date has not been set for Pit Stop, but Shutkas expects it to open in less than a month.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.