Pride corners market on stations in town

Date: 1/9/2012

Jan. 9, 2012

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW — It appears Pride Stations and Stores and its owner Robert Bolduc has cornered the market on gas in the center of East Longmeadow.

Bolduc’s company, which boasts 25 locations throughout Western Massachusetts according to its website, has taken over operation of the Mobil station at 13 North Main St., while continuing to operate its existing station at the rotary, located at 14 Center Square.

“This will confirm that we have subleased the subject property from Mr. Michael Frisbie and will operate the gas station as a traditional Mobil station and the convenience store as Pride,” Bolduc said in a letter to the Planning Board dated Dec. 24, 2011 and read into the record by Planning Board Clerk Alessandro Meccia at the board’s Jan. 3 meeting.

Frisbie purchased the 13 North Main Street property from original owner Bob Belli, but had not made his intentions to sublease the property known, Planning Director Robyn Macdonald said.

Bolduc continued the letter by stating that he intends to continue operating both locations with no changes.

“As very much [sic] appreciate doing business in your town and feel we can justify both locations. This new location will allow us to bring normal convenience store items to this area that currently has no such store,” he said.

Bolduc indicated in his letter that he did not plan on making any changes to the location’s special permit, however, Paul Federici, selectman and chair of the Board of Health, told the Board of Selectmen at its Jan. 3 meeting that Bolduc wished to change the store’s hours of operation.

“The only issue we have is they are looking for a change in operating time,” he said. “They want to go from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Currently, it’s 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, Friday 6 [a.m.] to 9 [p.m.] and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.”

Town Administrator Nick Breault presented the Selectmen with a food service establishment license to allow the sale of prepackaged food as well as a milk and cream license. He added that applications for an additional food service license for the sale of coffee and tea and a liquor license to sell beer and wine would be forthcoming.

The Selectmen questioned whether or not the change in hours had been discussed with the Planning Board while Selectman Jack Villamaino also suggested that the health inspector should come before them as well.

Board of Selectman Chair James Driscoll said the board would need to get answers from the Planning Board, as well as representatives from Pride before issuing any licenses.

“If it’s an urgent issue, why aren’t [Pride representatives] here?” he asked, “In my opinion, if we don’t have all the information, we should have all the information and they should be here. If they have a vested interest in making it happen, then they should at least have representation here. I suggest we table it until next Tuesday when we have all the information available.”

Villamaino, at the suggestion of Town Attorney James Donahue, made a motion to temporarily extend the conditions afforded Frisbie, the previous owner, until Jan. 10 when the Selectmen will revisit the issue with more information.

The extension was contingent upon Pride complying with any stipulations issued from the health inspector when he visited the store last week.