Ben McBroom, QuikTrip real estate manager, said this area was selected when company officials decided US 75 and I-40 was a perfect spot to locate.This would be the first travelmart along I-40 and is expected to cover some 6,000 square feet. If the land can be purchased, it would take around six months to get all inspections, including environmental, then construction would take some four months.
When built, between 25 to 40 employees would be working there. McBroom said salaries here would be the same as those paid at other QuikTrip stores.
When asked how this store would compare with others, McBroom said it would be similar to a store now in operation in Muskogee. “This is a gen 3 (third generation) store. It would be some 5,800 square feet for the store.
He told the Henryetta Economic Development Authority (HEDA) land negotiations have been successful with two of the three pieces of property and was at a $600,000 difference on the third.
McBroom was requesting HEDA to help with that added amount by giving a sales tax rebate for a three-year period. That would mean the city would reimburse Quicktrip three of the four percent generated in sales tax each year.
“This is something Henryetta badly needs,” said HEDA member Jim Beymer. He suggested HEDA pay $200,000 of the total up front that would reduce the rebate time to two years.
HEDA member Christy Jeffcoat made the motion to pay the $200,000 up front toward the purchase price then reimburse QuikTrip annually with a check for three percent of the four percent sales tax generated over a two year period. That reimbursement is based on a $600,000 land purchase price.
QuikTrip is headquartered in Tulsa and currently has over 700 gasoline and convenience stores in 11 states. Some 18,600 people work for the company.