Orion Township’s newest around-the-clock pit stop is almost here. Sheetz is set to throw a grand opening next Tuesday for its new store at the southwest corner of South Lapeer and West Silverbell roads, bringing the chain’s 24-hour made-to-order kitchen and fuel service to the neighborhood. The company has a morning ribbon-cutting and public giveaways on the schedule as it accelerates openings across southeast Michigan, with the new spot promising the familiar Sheetz menu, a drive-thru and full-time service.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the grand opening is set for the morning of next Tuesday and will feature a 10:45 a.m. ribbon-cutting, free gift-card giveaways, and remarks from company officials and local leaders. The Free Press also notes that Sheetz will donate $2,500 to Forgotten Harvest and $2,500 to Special Olympics Michigan as part of the community outreach tied to the opening.
What’s Going In At The Corner
Orion Township planning materials show the project covers roughly 1.97 acres and calls for a convenience store with a drive-thru plus an auto canopy with eight fuel pumps, providing 16 fueling positions. As outlined in the township packet and site-plan documents, the proposal lays out building finishes, landscaping, traffic circulation, and security systems, and lists the store footprint at about 6,100 square feet. The files also spell out environmental protections and monitoring for underground tanks as part of the approval record.
Part Of A Bigger Michigan Push
Sheetz is in expansion mode across Metro Detroit this year. The company plans to open 14 new sites in 2026 as part of an approximately $500 million investment, and it aims to grow to roughly 50 to 60 locations across southeast Michigan over the next five to six years, FOX 2 Detroit reports. The chain, which already operates more than 800 stores across several states, has said each new location will employ at least 30 people, and company officials have pitched the openings as both job creators and community partners.
Neighbors Raised Concerns At The Hearing
The project did not sail through without pushback. During the township review, an attorney representing a nearby family-owned gas station warned commissioners that a new Sheetz could strain traffic and undercut long-standing local businesses, according to testimony in the public hearing record. Township minutes and the application packet also outline the company’s responses, including access easements, landscape buffering and site-specific safety measures, which officials reviewed before approving site-plan items.
For readers interested in checking it out, the public portion of the opening is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. next Tuesday, when Sheetz representatives are expected to present checks to local nonprofits and hand out promotional gift cards. City and township staff are slated to be on hand during the morning event as the company cuts the ribbon and opens the doors to customers.
