Eyesore No More: Big Plans Ahead!
Jan 19, 2022 12:00AM ● By By Seti Long
Cleanup on the corner lot located on the north-west corner of Hwy 99 and West Liberty Rd in Gridley has begun, but still has a ways to go before being a completely clean slate for future development. Photo by Seti Long
GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - A flurry of activity at the southern end of town has stirred up the curiosity of Gridley residents.
The eyesore that has been collecting a variety of junked and disabled vehicles on the corner of West Liberty Road and Highway 99 was sold to new owners, business partners Manjit Lally and Jaz Kaur. The pair has big plans for the 6-acre property, a total of 3 parcels that they purchased in April of 2020.
Cleanup on a neighboring lot, owned by a realtor out of Yuba City, has already drawn the attention of the community. Allegedly, that lot has been leased to a trucking company out of Live Oak for use and truck storage. Cleanup efforts will continue and soon the community will see the corner lot cleared in anticipation of the final approval from the City of Gridley for Kaur and Lally’s development.
The partners plan on developing 3 acres of the property into a service station and restaurant, with ample space for large trucks. Kaur says they are designing and planning their new station independently, so at this time there is no specific fuel company set to occupy it"'that will come with time. The partners were inspired to put in a service station large enough to accommodate semi-trucks because the lack of them on the Highway 99 corridor between southern Yuba City and Corning.
As for the remaining 3 acres, only time will tell. Kaur mentions the possibility of another restaurant or fast-food chain, a car wash or even a truck wash, but only after the main services station and restaurant are established.
The development is currently in the planning stages and in a holding pattern until final approval, but the partners are anxious to get started. “We are excited. We already have two businesses in Gridley and we’ve been here for 20 years running Fastrack and Gridley Inn, so we are excited to bring another business to town.” Hopes are high that work on the development will start within the month, as soon as permission comes from the City, and cleanup on the lot is completed. Kaur says, “Our goal is to be up and running end of this year.”
