AMHERST — A long-running gas and service station in the East Amherst village center could resume operations later this summer.
Gilberto and Zulimar Rivas, who run Gil’s Auto Repair and Service in Holyoke, intend to reopen the 40 Belchertown Road site that was home to Barney’s Sunoco.
Originally opened in 1972 with a three-bay garage and gas pumps, the site is owned by Sandri Realty Inc. of Greenfield and will be leased to the Rivases.
Jeff Kocsis, regional manager for Sandri, said the timing of its opening will depend on getting municipal permits, but noted that the gas station has been “sorely missed” since closing in 2015.
On July 19, the Planning Board unanimously approved site plans for the new business, a necessary step since the establishment had been closed for about two years.
Planning Director Christine Brestrup said the town looks forward to welcoming the new owners, observing that they received praise from those familiar with their work in Holyoke.
“I think they made a positive presentation,” Brestrup said.
The site plans showed no significant changes to the building or the property, other than minor renovations. Unlike the previous owners, the Rivases will not sell used cars, but will offer propane on site. In addition to repairing vehicles, inspections will be done.
The gas station was run for more than a quarter-century by an entity known as Barney’s Enterprises Inc., but shut down when its property was seized by the state’s Department of Revenue for about $12,000 in unpaid sales and use taxes. Sandri has been looking for another operator for the site since that time.
The gas station is on the other side of the street from a Cumberland Farms gas station and convenience store, which opened in 1999.