Businesses opening soon

BROWNSTOWN — A new bakery and an upgraded service station that will focus on tobacco sales and convenience store items will soon open for business in this central Jackson County community.

On Monday, council members approved sign permits for both businesses.

Janet and Bryan Lewis said they planned to sell a variety of baked goods, including breads, muffins, doughnuts and pies, at the bakery they are calling Kneading the Dough.

“We hope to be open by Dec. 4,” Janet Lewis said of the bakery, which will be located in a 2,700-square-foot building at 416 N. Main St.

The opening date, however, is contingent on the completion of a lot of things, Janet said.

Council members approved two 4-by-8 signs, one for the street and a second for the front of the building.

Council also approved two 4-by-8 signs for the Sunoco service station at 811 W. Commerce St. Kocolene Marketing is replacing its present service station at that address with a convenience store.

Gary Myers, president and executive officer of Kocolene Marketing LLC, Seymour, said that company plans to open its new store now being constructed behind the present building by the end of this month.

“It will be a hybrid discount tobacco store,” Myers said. The company presently has 18 stores, called Smokers Host, across the state with most located in Bloomington and father north, Myers said.

“We also will have some convenience store products,” Myers said. “We think it will be a nice upgrade. Everything will be new, clean and bright. We’re excited about doing something for Brownstown. Brownstown has been a good loyal area for us.”

Myers said the new store also will offer fountain drinks and coffee and will feature a drive-through window for customers in a hurry.

“We will have a much greater inventory of tobacco,” he said.

Once the new 1,254-square-foot store is ready for occupancy, the company will be closing the station for five or six days to complete utility hookups, demolish the present building and replace fuel pumps.

Myers said the company plans to shut down the station Nov. 11 for the changeover, and the goal is to reopen it Nov. 20. The opening could be delayed, depending upon variables such as the weather.

“We want to reopen as quickly as we can,” he said.

The upgrade will also include improved diesel fueling facilities, Myers said.

Myers said the new store may require what will likely be an additional part-time employee or two, but if sales are good, that could change.

Hours will be the same as the present store: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekends.