The New Waterford Food Mart opened on Dec. 12 with a full line of convenience store products and includes a kitchen that features pizza, sandwiches, fish and shrimp baskets, fries, chef’s salad, hamburgers and hot dogs, barbecue chicken and 3 oz. tornado pepperoni and cheese. Pictured on the right, owner Harry Yadav, said beer, the Ohio Lottery and Citgo regular gas and diesel will be available soon. The renovated store is in the former Vittle Village location at 46791 state Route 46 in the center of the village. Also pictured are, left, Kasie Thompson, cashier, and Paula Quetot, store manager. (Salem News photo by Larry Shields)

NEW WATERFORD — Mayor Shane Patrone said he posted the opening of the New Waterford Food Mart on the village Facebook page on Dec. 11, the day before it opened and interest took off immediately.

There were 103 shares and the comment section quickly lit up.

“More than 10,663 people have viewed the post,” Patrone, who is happy to see the store open, said Wednesday.

Someone from Seattle even commented, he said.

Harry Yadav is the owner and operates another convenience store in Aliquippa, Pa.

He said Gary DeMarchis, who is a New Waterford councilman, tipped him off to the location.

“He’s the one who told me about it,” Yadav said, noting that he and DeMarchis are friends.

That was two years ago and after wading through all the paperwork the store opened on Dec. 12.

The shelves and coolers are filled with the usual convenience store merchandise from newspapers, milk, soft drinks, ice, pet foods, household cleaners, light bulbs, and auto fuel enhancers, which include Peak BlueDef diesel exhaust fluid, which means when the fuel pumps are operational, diesel fuel will be sold.

Yadav said the store will sell Citgo regular (only) and diesel fuel.

Beer sales will available soon as will the Ohio Lottery once the licenses, which Yadav expects soon, are obtained.

After DeMarchis advised him the store would be available, Yadav said, “I came here and saw a lot of opportunity. And the people … they’re great” and liked the fact Crestview schools are nearby.

While the 4,500 square foot building was structurally sound, new paint and lighting, cookers, counters, shelves, and other equipment were installed.

“Basically everything,” he said, including infrastructure.

“It’s all new,” he said.

The old store had customer tables, but at the New Waterford Food Mart all food is purchased on a carryout basis.

“Ninety percent of the customers buy food and leave,” he said.

Along with gas and diesel fuel, the New Waterford Food Mart will be selling kerosene and propane tanks, said Yadav, who entered the convenience store business with his first store in Aliquippa in 2003.

The store employs three full-time people and the hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

To place an order, call 330-299-1111.

lshields@salemnews.net