Coudersport and Sheetz News

For as big of a county that Potter, PA is, there just really isn't much here to see when it comes to retail. (Blame it on the population) The only few things that this county has to offer will be covered right here, right now. This county is one of only two counties in PA that does not have a dept store or even a major supermarket chain of any kind. There are only 5 national companies in the county. They are Rite Aid, McDonald's, Subway, Goodwill and Dollar General. Sheetz does have a location here, but they are not a national chain. Goodwill is the newest store to enter the county. JCPenney did have a mini-store in Coudersport at one time but it closed in the late '00s.

Sheetz News

So this is an old Sheetz. I believe this location is #165 or #166 in the chain. Therefore it is an outdated store by today's standards. Sheetz does want to expand:

"Sheetz is interested in expanding its Coudersport store, according to Sheetz Site Selector Brian Dinges. However, the only viable option for the current location, he said, is to expand west onto .35 acres of the Arboretum, a park on borough property. The Arboretum is in part maintenanced by the Arboretum Committee, which raises money for the effort. The park features the American Legion Veteran Honor Wall and dedication trees, benches and bricks. The borough pays for the mowing, electric and insurance."

-quote from toigapublishing.com.

I did read that Sheetz wants the arboretum to relocate elsewhere and would help to accomplish it.

You can see a satellite perspective of the area via the link above. Here's two on the ground pictures from that park area:

It will be interesting to see what happens here. Here's some interior photos of this older Sheetz location:

Goodwill Moves In
As I mentioned, Goodwill is the newest national company to move into Potter County. Originally they set up in a 2,500 sq. ft. former Movie Gallery after it had closed, but it soon relocated to make a more proper-sized Goodwill at a former Dollar General next door after Dollar General relocated to a new store down the road from its existing location.

Former Movie Gallery and Goodwill.

Former Dollar General now Goodwill. Below is a picture of when Dollar General operated here.

Goodwill took over the former Dollar General sign as well.

The new Dollar General being constructed.

The finished new Dollar General.

Other Coudersport Retail:

And of course here's a look at the former JCPenney:

Flickr user drpep also has this picture which is worth mentioning. It shows a labelscar at this location.

The only other comments I want to make for Potter County is that Sheetz was looking at one time to build a second Potter County location in Shinglehouse, but that did not go through because of a household unwilling to sell. Walmart also almost opened a location in Roullette in the 1990s, but because of a lack of support from the community it never happened.

That's it from Coudersport (and pretty much Potter County as well). I will try to keep an eye out for any developments on Sheetz in the future, but nothing has started yet.

UPDATE: Sheetz has now plans to abandon its current location (though it does hope to find a replacement tenant) and relocate next to Goodwill.