Little Caeser's ends mystery of long gas station remodel

 Cedar Rapids residents who've been wondering for years what's going into a Mount Vernon Road gas station that's been under renovation for several years finally have an answer.

Little Caesar's Pizza will open in the renovated gas station at 3404 Mount Vernon Road SE, which has sprouted a second floor and taken on a Mediterranean style.

The property was operated for decades as a Sinclair gas station, but was no longer viable for a service station after much of its parking and concrete apron were acquired for the widening of Mount Vernon Road.

Eli Khairallah, co-owner of the Zio Johno's Spaghetti House restaurant chain, bought the property at an auction held by Sinclair Oil about six years ago.

Khairallah said his guiding principle in renovating the building was to change its appearance so dramatically that it bore no suggestion of its former gas station past.

"When I saw it, I visualized right away what kind of building I wanted," said Khairalla, who had previously developed  a Mediterranean-style Zio Johno's restaurant in Marion.

A second floor was added to the former gas station building entirely for visual appeal, Khairallah said. It has no contents, and doesn't even have a usable door to a large outdoor balcony.

Khairallah planned to open a small Mediterranean restaurant in the building, but realized after several years that he would probably never find the time to complete the project because of his busy schedule managing Zio Johno's in Marion.

 The tiny parking area left by the Mount Vernon Road widening might have been a problem for many businesses, but not for Little Caeser's Pizza. Little Caeser's is a fast-takeout concept that offers ready-to-serve pizzas for as low as $5.

The restaurant will be third Little Caesar's in Cedar Rapids for local franchisees Jake Kennel and Sebastian Brost, who opened brought Little Caesar's back to Cedar Rapids in 2008 with the opening of his first restaurant at 2210 Edgewood Road SW. Kennel opened a second location in February 2009 at 124 Collins Road NE.