(9/27) Emmitsburg’s newest business, the Rutter’s gas station and convenience center located just off Rt. 15, at the intersection of Taneytown Pike (Md. 140) and Harney Road, is on track for its planned opening this fall.

Speculations has been swirling on the status of the facility following the placement of a ‘for sale or lease’ sign at the property. The signs, however, refer to lots adjoining the station, which Rutter’s will not be using. Rutter’s management hopes they can be used by other potential businesses that will complement services offered by the station.

The roughly 8,500 square foot, 15-acre facility has been in the works for almost two years, with multiple permits having been required by the county for the construction, as well as for a sewer line, because the facility is so close to a major highway.

When completed, the station will boast seven gasoline fuel islands and five diesel fuel bays and dozens of parking spaces for tracker trailers and passenger vehicles.

The new Rutter’s will include everything regular customers can expect including Rutter’s classic array of award-winning food service, as well as fuel and diesel, according to Chris Hartman, Rutter’s Director of Fuels and Forecourt.

Employee training has begun, and the new Rutter’s looks to bring about 50 store staff jobs.

Mayor Don Briggs 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. It will really benefit the town in a great way," he said.

The new Rutter’s also looks to impact the price of gas in the area and anticipated gas price relief through station competition. Multiple gas stations in an area generally bring price competition between locations, and the completion of the Rutter’s will invariably set off an old fashion ‘gas war,’ greatly benefiting local drivers.

The expected ‘gas war’ will only heat up with the completion of the Royal Farm’s gas and convenience center, also on Rt. 15, just north of Thurmont. While the start date of the Royal Farm’s facility has not been set yet, when the station is completed, the northern part of the county will be served by 8 gas stations, making it the largest concentration outside of Frederick.

For the past two years, Walkersville and Woodsboro have seen the lowest prices in the county, usually .20 a gallon over surrounding towns, following the construction of three major gas stations with 3 miles of each other, including a Rutter’s.

Emmitsburg’s current gas stations do not compete between themselves. At the time of printing for this paper, Sunoco’s listed gas prices for regular is $3.39/gallon while Valero’s is .20 more expensive at $3.59/gallon.

The need to compete will only increase with the anticipated loss of customers from Fairfield, who will be able to purchase gas at the soon to be re-opening gas station in Fairfield, eliminating the need to drive to Emmitsburg to fill their tanks.

This will be Rutters’ second attempt at establishing a station in Emmitsburg. Emmitsburg’s previous Rutter’s was on the west end of town just before the entrance to Brookfield, closed about twenty years ago due to lack of business.