(9/15) Ground has official been broken for the Rutter’s gas station/convenience store to be located on the east side of Rt. 15 on Taneytown Pike.
At the Sept. 13 groundbreaking ceremony, Chris Hartman, Rutter’s Director of Fuels and Forecourt, said
"We’re excited to get started and be part of the community. " Hartman, an 11th generation member of the Rutter’s family, has been in the forefront of bringing the convenience store to Emmitsburg.
"A major interstate like Route 15 is something we look for and recognize has a lack of certain services we could provide," Hartman said.
The convenience store project has been in the works for about two years, according to Tim Bieber, Site Development Project Manager. While the project is still awaiting some permits, construction for the 8,500 square feet, 15-acre store is expected to begin in October and doors are anticipated to be open "mid to late next year," Bieber said.
The new store is expected to bring in 50 jobs, plus business for construction industries, vendors, and other companies, according to Hartman. "We want to grow in a good area that needs us. It's been a long time coming but we're almost there," Hartman said.
The Rutter’s family has owned the same York County dairy farm since 1921, established by Hartman’s great-grandfather and his brother. In 1968 the family branched out and began establishing convenience stores.
Emmitsburg’s previous Rutter’s location, located on the west end of town just before the entrance to Brookfield, closed about twenty years ago due to lack of business. Prior to that, the store was High’s.
The new Rutter’s will include everything regular customers can expect including Rutter’s classic array of usual award-winning food service, as well as fuel and diesel, according to Hartman.
"Everyone is excited and keeps asking about it. It’s been up to bat for two years," Commissioner Clifford Sweeney said.
Mayor Don Briggs said he was excited for the new store and hopes it will bring in business for the community. "It’s a major traffic area and a place for trucks to land," he said.
In the 1990’s Briggs was instrumental in representing the land developers as a real estate agent to bring over 100 acres (including the Rutter’s property) into Emmitsburg. "It all comes full circle," Briggs said.
