Work is ongoing at 437 W. Aspen Ave. (at the intersection of West Aspen Avenue and Coulson Street) in Fruita for a City Market Fuel Center. It’s about two blocks from Fruita’s City Market grocery store.

Two buildings have been removed from the half-acre lot: a 1,213-square-foot commercial building and a 3,208-square-foot multifamily housing complex. Already erected are a 173-square-foot fuel kiosk and a 19-foot-high canopy that will cover five “multi-product fueling dispensers.”

A letter from law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP, representing MJ Property Investors LLC, the contract purchaser on behalf of City Market, said the project is consistent with Fruita Strategic Plan goals and policies.

One of those goals is economic development, and the law firm noted the City Market Fuel Center “will enhance the customer base of the City Market grocery store – which is located two blocks from the Project – thereby supporting the store’s viability.

“The Project will allow City Market customers to purchase both groceries and fuel locally and redeem rewards points within the City. Currently, many City Market customers travel to Grand Junction where they can redeem their City Market fuel points.

“Fueling facilities that accompany City Market grocery stores have also historically demonstrated a significant increase in revenue for City Market grocery stores.”