Operators of warehouse retailer Sam's Club are considering the addition of its first Alaska gas station at its Fairbanks location.
"We're looking at the possibility of adding gas at the Fairbanks club," said Melissa Berryhill, spokeswoman for the Bentonville, Ark., retailer.
The project is in the early planning stages, she said.
Sam's Club operates 136 gas stations at its more than 495 stores, she said. The company's gas stations are in 26 states.
A possible Alaska Sam's Club gas station would mark the retailer's first unit on the West Coast, Berryhill said. The only other Sam's Club gas stations in the West are in Colorado and Nevada, she said.
Typically, the gas stations have six dispensers for a total of 12 pumps. Most of the Sam's Club gas stations are available to people who have a membership card for the warehouse retailer.
Last year warehouse competitor Costco opened gas stations at its two Anchorage stores.
In 2000 Fred Meyer and Carrs/Safeway added gas stations to several stores statewide.
Fred Meyer built the pumping facilities at the west Fairbanks, East Anchorage and Soldotna stores. A new store at Abbott Road in Anchorage due to open early this year is scheduled to include a gas station.
The Eagle River Carrs' gas station opened in summer 2000.
Anchorage Village Inn receives 2001 top sales franchise award
The Village Inn franchise located at Northern Lights Boulevard in Anchorage has been honored as the company's highest-volume unit. Franchisees Scott and Mark Anderson received Village Inn's top sales award at the 2001 Village Inn franchise convention held in Las Vegas in November.
Sales at the Anchorage franchise totaled $3.74 million in 2001, the highest volume in the 224 restaurant chain, company officials said.
Village Inn operates three restaurants in Anchorage.
Second-place Dow Sherwood Corp. of Tampa, Fla. recorded $3.15 million in sales last year.
Village Inn is a division of Denver-based VICORP Restaurants Inc. The company currently has franchise development agreements in place for 27 new restaurants in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida and Kansas.
