A second Sheetz store is underway in Romulus less than a year after the Pennsylvania-based chain opened its first location in the city.

The 24-hour convenience store and fuel chain started construction at 29225 Smith Road and is expected to open in late summer or early fall. The 6,000 square-foot store will feature made-to-order food and have eight fueling islands for cars, but no fueling options for tractor trailers.

“We couldn’t be more excited to break ground on our second Romulus location,” said Travis Sheetz, the stores’ president and CEO, in a Wednesday news release. “Since opening our first store last August, the response from the community has been incredible—from the energy in the store to the conversations we’ve had with customers and city leaders. It’s clear that Romulus residents are hungry for more options.”

The company opened its first store in Romulus in August 2024 and began construction on its Chesterfield site last month.In the release, Sheetz said its momentum in the market is set to pick up with more than a dozen Metro Detroit locations to be built later this year and into 2026. And it still remains on track to open 50-60 locations in southeast Michigan over the next five to six years.

“The City of Romulus is proud to welcome Sheetz’s second location to our community,” said Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight in the release. “From the moment they opened their first store on Wick Road, Sheetz has proven to be a true partner — invested, responsive, and aligned with our community values. While I know some cities have expressed concerns about Sheetz entering their markets, our experience has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Although hundreds of individuals welcomed Sheetz first store in Romulus, other such communities as Farmington Hills, Shelby Township, Eastpointe, Livoniaand more have spoken out to oppose building near their homes, citing potential for crime and pollution.

Still, Sheetz has pressed on. It claimed territories in Warren — one displacing a long-time barbeque smokehouse — Fraser, Macomb Township, Farmington Hills, Novi, Taylor, Eastpointe, and Ypsilanti. Each store needs 30 to 35 workers, the majority of which would fill full-time positions, according to the company.