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New operators to take over Hilltop Sinclair gas station in Steamboat

Mike Lawrence
Centennial-based Western Convenience Stores will become the new operators of the gas station and convenience store at Hilltop Parkway and U.S. Highway 40.
Matt Stensland

— Western Convenience Stores is taking over the Sinclair gas station and convenience store at Hilltop Parkway and U.S. Highway 40, the site’s owner said Tuesday.

Local developer Jon Peddie, who owns the site with Jim Woods, said Centennial-based Western will become the new operators of the gas station and convenience store just south of downtown Steamboat Springs.

Peddie said Western will keep the store’s current staff — which numbers about seven — and do an interior remodel.



There’s potential for new jobs, as well, because Western could offer round-the-clock service at the convenience store and slightly ramp up staffing, Peddie said.

“They are looking at being open 24 hours, starting very shortly,” he said Tuesday. “They’re supposed to take over operations starting” today.



Mark Norek, of Western’s marketing division, could not be reached Tuesday.

Peddie said the brand has more than 40 locations in the Denver metro area.

Western “was looking for a presence in the mountains, contacted us, and it seemed to make sense,” Peddie said.

Peddie said Western will sell fuel under its own brand, a move that he said could allow the location “to be a little more price-competitive.”

The Hilltop Sin­­­­clair was selling the most expensive gas in the city Sunday, when a gallon of regular unleaded there cost $2.89. Steam­­boat’s next-priciest gas was found at the Shell station on U.S. 40 at Weiss Drive, Bob’s Con­­oco at 10th Street and the Space Station at Seventh Street.

The three charged $2.84 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

Four stations offered the city’s cheapest gas Sunday, at $2.67 per gallon: the Kum & Go stations at Anglers Drive and the city’s west side, Loaf ‘N Jug on Mount Werner Road and 7-Eleven at U.S. 40 and Routt County Road 129.

The Hilltop Sinclair site is familiar to many for the green dinosaur that sits near the intersection with U.S. 40.

Peddie said he didn’t know whether Western will keep the dinosaur.

“That’s really up to them,” he said.

Peddie said he and Woods were not involved in the January transaction that changed the Mount Werner Road station from a Sinclair brand to Loaf ‘N Jug.


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