A relatively small portion of Greater Dundalk will soon have what many believe to be more than its fair share of convenience stores.
The 7-11 chain will open two new stores in locations recently vacated by other businesses.
The former Wendy's at 4000 North Point Blvd. has much of its exterior renovations completed and now has the iconic look of a 7-11, complete with a sign.
It will compete with a Royal Farms at 4015 North Point Blvd. and a WaWa at 4017 North Point Blvd.
The former Pantry 1 convenience store at 7100 North Point Rd. in Edgemere, which closed abruptly about six weeks ago, will also be a new 7-11 store.
Residents fear the new store will compete with a long-established 7-11 at 2324 Sparrows Point Road, about a mile away.
Less than three miles separate all five stores, with the three North Point Boulevard stores within a block of each other.
While 7-11's corporate office did not return phone calls requesting an interview regarding the new and existing stores, local residents say they've heard a variety of possible scenarios.
"I heard the owner of the (Sparrows Point Road) store might be closing his store and taking over the new one here on North Point," Shallow Creek Bookstore Cafe employee Don Chaney said. "That store isn't getting business from (RG Steel) any more, and people from this part of the peninsula are driving out of their way to go there. If they move up here, they'll get this traffic, and we're hoping it will be good for us as well."
The addition of the 7-11 across the road from the existing WaWa and Royal Farms makes less sense to Chaney.
"I don't see what kind of business they will pick up, with the other two right there," he said. "Maybe with (the McDonald's) right there, they will catch the fast food shoppers who will stop to pick up milk and bread, that sort of thing."
Do you think this small area can support five convenience stores? Start the conversation in the comments section below.
Parking is inadequate at the former Pantry 1. As far as being American-owned the opportunities are there for any American willing to take the risk and pony up the franchise fee and work six and seven days a week to make a living.