TOWER- Folks who have driven past the Y Store last week may have noticed that gas costs 0.00. But they’ve also noticed that the fuel pumps have been removed and the area is undergoing some major excavation.
“We are updating the infrastructure,” said Fortune Bay’s marketing manager Brian Anderson. “There weren’t any leaks, but there was some electrical rewiring that needed to be done, and some of the pipes needed to be replaced as well.”
The convenience store and liquor stores are both open during the renovations.
In addition to the infrastructure work, the store’s parking lot will be repaved once the project is completed.
“The parking lot was also getting pretty rough,” said Anderson. “So rather than just make some minor repairs, Bois Forte decided to repave the main parking lot. The overflow parking lot was still in good condition, so that will not be repaired at this time.”
The entire project is expected to cost around half a million dollars. Bois Forte Enterprises has received a $99,000 grant from an Underground Storage Tank System (UST)  Alternative Fuel program. The remaining dollars are being funded by Bois Forte.
If the weather cooperates, the project should be completed by the end of October.
“We’d like to remind everyone that the Y Store is still open for business, as is the adjoining The Ledge Liquor store,” said Anderson. “We’d also like to thank our loyal customers for their patience and understanding while these improvements are made.”