Slightly random here, but I did find it interesting that a concern very briefly expressed at the last East Lansing city council meeting was that, as part of its renovation of Spartan Stadium, MSU would actually build a little restaurant/bar area around it, which would pull people away from downtown EL. Even the councilmember who raised the concern seemed to admit that she was speaking super speculatively, but found the thought interesting, anyway.
EL is going to consider the new service station/restaurant at the site of the closed Rite-Aid store on E Saginaw and Abbot. If it has to be another gas station, [there is brand new one across the street] this one looks OK and having a mini-mart and a restaurant makes it a place that locals will use and find a bit more useful. Maybe they will have gas price wars with the Marathon Station across the street!
Is this where three used to be a gas station as well? I remember a gas station on each corner years and years ago. I feel like they were both that sunken look. Seems like overkill on gas, but I guess there aren't a lot around there either.
There may have been a gas station before the Rite-Aid building was built, the "sunken" station was where the new Marathon and mini-mart is now. I think there may have been stations on three corners in the '70s, back in the day there were gas stations nearly every two or three blocks. I guess that is because most cars only got about 10 or 12 miles per gallon.
I'm not familiar with Sheetz but my understanding is that they're a little more than your regular gas station, they have an almost evangelical following. I'm not much of a fan of Speedway, QD seems to be dying a slow death... I say bring on a new guy.
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In other news, EL's planning commission voted in favor of the 13 floor building on Albert St, it still has to get through one more committee then Council. The developers say they want to begin construction this summer.
https://www.wilx.com/2026/01/29/east-lansing-planning-commission-recommends-approval-13-story-downtown-development/
https://eastlansinginfo.news/planning-commission-recommends-massive-13-story-student-apartment-building-downtown/