Casey’s replacing downtown Cedar Rapids store

CEDAR RAPIDS - Demolition of Casey's General Store's existing downtown Cedar Rapids location has begun in preparation for a new store at the same location.

A 4,200-square-foot store will replace a 2,916-square-foot building at 201 Eighth Ave. SE. The convenience store was constructed in 1984 on the site of a Martin Oil service station that had operated since 1942.

Casey's acquired the Eighth Avenue building when it bought the 33-store HandiMart chain in October 2006. The store's fuel tanks and fuel pumps were removed earlier this week.

Brian Johnson, Casey's vice president of finance, said the store will be similar to a new Casey's under construction at 560 33rd Ave. SW.

'The stores will be our latest design,” Johnson said.

After the new 33rd Avenue SW store opens this fall, Johnson said Casey's will continue to operate its older 3,500-square-foot store at 380 33rd Ave. SW.

'We feel that the existing store pulls traffic off the interstate,” Johnson said. 'The goal for the new store will be to pick up the heavy traffic on Sixth Street as well as the lunch crowd from the industrial area to the west.”

It will not be the first time that the chain has kept two stores open in proximity.

Casey's opened a travel center for cars and trucks in 2012 at 9001 Sixth St. SW, but continues to operate a Casey's at 9125 Atlantic Drive SW.