A former used car lot and service building at one of downtown Toledo's south “gateways” has come down, and a shiny new gas station, mini-restaurant, and convenience store is planned to go up in its place.

Gateway Sunoco could be completed within three months, according to the general contractor, Stanford Thal, Inc., who removed the old building and began preparing the lot at Summit Street and Broadway two weeks ago.

Bill Ruch, President of Thal contracting company, said the building will be split-face block on the lower portion and brick on the upper portion, with an arched entranceway. The business will have entrances on Clayton Street, Summit, and Broadway.

Toledo City Council issued a special-use permit to the business on Jan. 15, 2002, despite opposition from former Mayor Carty Finkbeiner who said a convenience store was an inappropriate use of the high-profile location.

Gateway Food & Fuel, Inc., the parent company of Gateway Sunoco, based at 7842 West Windsor Woods Ct., Maumee, applied on April 2 for carryout beer and wine permits with the Ohio Liquor Control Commission.

James Sayed, the developer of Gateway Sunoco, told Toledo City Council in a hearing last year that he controlled the liquor permit at the Snappy Mart convenience store, which is across Summit Street, and that he would cancel that liquor permit before opening a new one at the Gateway site.

However, the operators of Snappy Mart, Mayssa and Fadl Awada, said last week that they are in the process of buying the business from Mr. Sayed, and don't intend to give up their liquor license. Mayssa Awada said the city should fight Gateway Sunoco's application for a liquor permit.

Mr. Sayed could not be reached last week for comment.

Toledo councilman Bob McCloskey, who backed the Sayed application before City Council, said he was concerned at the slow pace of the project, but “I'm pleased that the project is finally moving ahead and hopeful that it's going to be a well-done project that will really support the gateway for the South Toledo community.”

First Published April 17, 2003, 12:32 p.m.