By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
You may not find Polar Pops anymore at the former Lane Street Circle K location, but there is a new convenience store in town that offers the usual amenities along with a sense of community.
Open since May 2, The T and J Fast Food Mart has taken over the former site of the Circle K. Owner Tammy Musser explained that while the convenience store is currently in its infancy, it will be expanding soon to include a kitchen that will serve fried chicken, sandwiches, and more.
“It will be like a fast food counter, like a walk-in Dairy Queen type establishment once we get everything put in here that we want,” Musser said. “We will serve breakfast in the morning. We will have breakfast sandwiches and breakfast pizza.”
Helping Musser run the store is Cathy Usher, a former coworker at North Side Fuel.
“We knew what we wanted to do with the building. We both had been in the food industry for a long time, and we worked together for a long time, so we are in cahoots,” Musser said.
Musser is hoping to have monthly giveaways, such as bicycles, throughout the year and is planning on participating in the annual neighborhood block party.
“I feel like I am here to serve the community, not just take from the community,” Musser said. “I am trying to distance myself from the location that was here in the past, and that is why I chose not to sell alcohol or tobacco products here.”
Currently, the T and J Fast Food Mart’s hours are from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday with floating hours on Sunday. Musser explained that when the kitchen is running she expects to open at 6 a.m. to serve breakfast.
