Demolition started at the property of the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Roseville, where a Sheetz gas station is planned.
City Manager Ryan Monroe said on Tuesday, Aug. 25, that demolition began on some of the buildings at the site, including an old nursery, preschool and rectory, which was like an apartment building. He did not have a timeline on when the former church, at Utica Road and Gratiot Avenue, will start coming down.
A few weeks ago, he said asbestos was being removed from the former church, which, along with the former Apple Annie's Kitchen & Bakery restaurant nearby, has been surrounded by fencing ahead of the demolition. The church, a beloved, historic site, shuttered in 2017, and the former restaurant closed in mid-June.
Nicholas Ruffner, public affairs manager at Sheetz, said in a statement Wednesday, Aug. 26, that crews began demolition at the former church site earlier this week, saying it was a "major step forward for the opening of this store."
"Every precaution was taken to safely remove hazardous materials from the buildings on the property before any demolition began, and that same careful, thorough approach will guide our team throughout the process. We expect this work to continue over the next several months, clearing the way for construction to begin later this fall," he said.
The restaurant will be a part of the demolition over the coming months before construction begins. Sheetz facilities can cost $7-10 million depending on amenities and site characteristics, Ruffner said.
Ruffner said the approximately 6,100-square-foot store will have 14 fueling positions, inside and outside seating, and touchscreen kiosks where customers can customize made-to-order food and crafted beverages.
The company is targeting a 2027 opening, he said, though it's too early for an exact timeline.
Sheetz, a Pennsylvania-based company, is building 24-hour gas stations and convenience stores across Michigan, particularly southeast Michigan. The Roseville location will be a 24/7 operation like the others.
Sheetz entered Michigan in 2024 and expects to operate nearly 20 stores in the state by year-end, according to its website. In a 2025 release, the company said it planned to open 50-60 stores across southeast Michigan over the next five to six years. Prior Free Press reporting put that investment at $500 million.
The site of the former church and restaurant in Roseville will be turned into one of several Sheetz locations in Macomb County. There are six locations in the county, with more anticipated, including two in Warren and one each in Chesterfield Township, Fraser, Eastpointe and Macomb Township currently.
Sheetz has 13 locations in southeast Michigan, with a new one set to open Sept. 1 in Taylor, Ruffner said.
Sheetz is in seven states and announced in April that it plans to continue its Midwest expansion by opening its first stores in Indiana, in the greater Indianapolis area, in 2027, according to a release on its website. It said the company plans to build 100 stores over the next 10 years in Indiana, investing nearly $1 billion there.
Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Demo starts at former Roseville church site as Sheetz plans new store
