Sheetz quietly opened its first Oakland County location in Novi last month, and things have not been all that quiet since. While customers lined up for freebies at 12 Mile and Haggerty, crews about 20 miles away started knocking down buildings at a key Highland Township corner so the fast-growing chain could plant another flag in southeast Michigan.
Sheetz’s Novi Grand Opening
The Novi store at 12 Mile and Haggerty officially opened on April 28 with a ribbon-cutting and a wave of promotional giveaways, according to Novi Note. Company representatives marked the debut by presenting a donation to Forgotten Harvest and said the site will run 24/7 with made-to-order food, fuel, and the usual Sheetz convenience store offerings. Local officials framed the opening as both a jobs boost and a fresh amenity for Oakland County drivers.
Demolition Starts at Highland Township Site
In Highland Township, the Sheetz rollout is at a much messier stage. Crews have started tearing down existing structures at 155 W. Highland Road, on the southwest corner of M-59 and Milford Road, to clear space for a new Sheetz convenience store, according to MLive. Township leaders signed off on the project last year, and the plans appear in the Highland Township planning packet, which spells out negotiated design details including driveway placement, landscaping, and stormwater work.
What the Buildout Looks Like
Sheetz has said it expects to have nearly 20 stores operating in Michigan by the end of the year and is targeting roughly 50 to 60 locations in southeast Michigan over the next five to six years, based on company statements and industry reporting. The chain now runs more than 830 stores nationwide and typically staffs each new site with about 30 to 35 employees, according to coverage in C-Store Dive. With that kind of scale, it is no surprise that municipalities and developers are already deep in talks over traffic patterns, driveway locations, and how to make the bright-red newcomer fit into existing corridors.
Neighbors Push Back and Officials Respond
Public meetings over proposed Sheetz locations in the Detroit suburbs have been anything but sleepy. Residents have packed hearing rooms to raise concerns about traffic, noise, and what another big-box fuel stop could mean for long-running independent gas stations. WXYZ reported that Highland Township trustees ultimately approved the Sheetz application after a crowded meeting, while other communities, including Farmington Hills and Livonia, have rejected proposals outright. Township staff in Highland say they pushed for design changes, from landscaping tweaks to specific driveway placement, in an effort to blunt some of the neighborhood worries.
Next Steps for the Highland Site
Highland Township officials told MLive that Sheetz is expected to apply for building permits once demolition and clearing wrap up. Residents watching the work were quoted as saying, “everyone is saying 'finally!'” as the heavy equipment rolled in. The planning documents list a series of remaining conditions, mostly related to landscaping and final driveway work, that must be satisfied before full vertical construction can begin. If permits arrive on schedule, observers expect foundation and utility work to follow in the coming months.
For drivers, more Sheetz locations mean another late-night option and a bit more competition at the pump. For nearby residents, it means months of construction noise, new traffic plans, and more public meetings to hash out the details. Township and city officials say they will keep shaping the projects through permit reviews and design conditions as the chain moves from paperwork to building. That likely means more ribbon-cuttings and more clashes, as Sheetz pushes across southeast Michigan.
