The long-established Boemmel's Auto Wash and gas station at 490 West Main Street has been purchased for $825,000 by the Stop & Shop grocery chain. The company is owned by the Netherlands-based Ahold.
A new domestic company, Gas Development Cheshire LLC, was formed in Feburary at the same time a special permit application for the site was submitted to the Cheshire Planning and Zoning Commission.
The commission held a public hearing on the application on Feb. 27 and approved the permit that evening. The redevelopem plan calls for razing the carwash building and putting in 10 gas pumps. The station now has three pumps.
Former owner Frank Boemmel bought the property in 1996, according to town records. The service station, which covers a half acre, was built in 1978, records note.
The new service station will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. It is directly across from the historic Ball & Socket factory and adjacent to Farmington Canal Rails to Trails pathway.
