Kwik Trip Could Locate in Menomonee Falls

If all goes according to developers’ plans, Menomonee Falls could be home to a new Kwik Trip this fall.

Kwik Trip Inc. is looking to build a 6,000-square-foot gas station and convenience store on vacant land near the intersection of Lilly Road and Silver Spring Drive. The developers are asking to operate 24 hours each day and the store would include gasoline, a grocery section, hot and cold food and beverages, and a separate beer and liquor sales area with its own entrance.

Hans Zietlow, director of real estate for Kwik Trip, Inc., said the company hoped to break ground on the project in June, with a preliminary target to open in October. The store would employ about 20 people.

“We first looked to develop that property about 10 years ago,” Zietlow said. “We’re going to make that center lot a lot more viable by bringing more activity to it.”

Zietlow said the store’s design would adhere in its specifications to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified. LEED certified buildings are designed to increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, conserve water and improve indoor environmental quality.

Zietlow said he’s received continued requests from Menomonee Falls residents who would like to see a Kwik Trip built in the village.

“As long as I’ve been director of real estate there’s bee constant requests to come to Menomonee Falls,” Zietlow said. “We have had a lot of positive feedback from people in Menomonee Falls.”

At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Kwik Trip, Inc. will appear before the Plan Commission at Village Hall, W156N8480 Pilgrim Rd. to request rezoning of a portion of land on the vacant property to allow a gas station. It will be the first step in a series of approvals needed from the village to begin construction.

Businesses Leery of New Development

Not everyone agrees that more is better in the neighborhood. Some owners of existing businesses disputed the need for more competition in what is already a tight market.

For more than a decade, Bhupinder Grewal and her husband worked 14 to 15 hours each day to save up enough money to purchase the Mobil Gas Station, N56W13920 Siler Spring Dr. They often went weeks without seeing each other to meet their goal of owning a business.

After approximately three years at their new location, Grewal said they were very worried that they will not be able to compete and will lose their business, and their dream. The couple still owes $2.5 million to the bank and another $400,000 to family and friends.

“A 20 percent drop in sales could  put us out of business,” Grewal said. “Competition is good in some respects, but I can’t compete with them.”

Scott Haese owns Scotty’s Beer and Liquor, N56W14108 Silver Spring Dr., and is also concerned that the Kwik Trip development will tap into his business. He said there’s already an abundance of gas stations and liquor stores in the area.

“Do we really need another gas station?” Haese said. “You’ve got to grow and develop, but in areas where there isn’t an overabundance.”

Grewal and Haese are circulating petitions at their businesses collecting signatures of residents opposed to the Kwik Trip development. Grewal said there are already 22 gas stations within 2 ½ miles of the proposed Kwik Trip.

The petition states that there are too many gas stations in the area. Another gas station development wouldn’t add value or benefit to surrounding residents, and would create hardships on existing businesses, according to the petition. Residents nearby have also started their own petitions, Grewal said.

Both Haese and Grewal opened their businesses years ago with the understanding that there wouldn’t be another gas station built near the shopping plaza, and a sit-in restaurant would be built on the vacant land, they said.

“I didn’t spend all this money to start my business just to have a competitor right in the parking lot,” Haese said.

However, planning technician Matt Dorner said there is nothing on the books requiring the land to be developed that way.

There’s Room for Everyone

Zietlow said Kwik Trip planned to build at this location because the Silver Spring and Lilly Road intersection is a good place3 to capture business from people heading home from work.

“We don’t go into a site looking for competition, nor do we avoid competition when we chose a location,” Zietlow said.

Although Kwik Trip could go shoulder-to-shoulder with existing businesses, Zietlow said it’s the nature of a free market system to compete.

“We have never complained about a similar business expanding next to one of our stores,” Zietlow said. “We believe in the free market and competition makes everyone better and not worse.”