Status Update: RaceTrac opens on State Road 70 in East Manatee

EAST MANATEE -- A RaceTrac gas station built on the former site of one of Manatee County's oldest homes has opened.

Under construction through the second half of 2015, the station at 3004 53rd Avenue E. (State Road 70) opened Dec. 22. The approximately 6,000-square foot convenience store is built on the longtime location of the Beth Salem house, a 118-year-old structure that was demolished in June to make room for the new RaceTrac. The house had been listed on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1995.

One of two RaceTrac stores that have been under construction in south and southwest Manatee County this year, the 53rd Avenue East store was built to follow a new prototype design introduced by the Atlanta-based company. According to a company spokeswoman, the new store features a yogurt bar, a larger coffee bar, free wifi and outdoor seating. Motorists filling up at the station will be able to do so at any one of 18 fueling stations.

RaceTrac purchased the 3.54-acre property from the Reasoner family for $1.95 million in September 2014. The Reasoners had most recently used the home as offices for their Royal Palm Nurseries, which operated on the property. Royal Palm was credited with introducing hundreds of plants to Florida, including the world's first pink grapefruit.

The new RaceTrac store is located next to Sam's Club, which operates its own set of gas pumps.

Before this store, RaceTrac's most recent opening in Manatee County was at 8100 State Road 64 E., adjacent to the Heritage Harbor community. That store opened in December 2014.

The company also expects to open another new store at the intersection of North Tamiami Trail and Pearl Avenue in the coming weeks.

Status Update, a new weekly feature, is a regular look at the progress of construction projects throughout Manatee County.

Project name: RaceTrac

Location: 3004 53rd Avenue E.

Project type: Convenience store and gas station

Owner: RaceTrac Petroleum

General contractor: Stine Construction, Plant City

Project value: $968,911

Completion date: Store opened Dec. 22

Square footage: 5,928 , with a 10,000-square-foot canopy space

Property size: 3.54 acres

Stories: One

Source: Manatee County records, RaceTrac

This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 4:52 PM with the headline "Status Update: RaceTrac opens on State Road 70 in East Manatee ."