By Ashley Stewart

ELLENDALE — A new building can now be seen from Interstate 35 near Ellendale.

But that building, Casey’s General Store, isn’t scheduled to open until October, said Bill Walljasper, chief financial officer of Casey’s.

“We don’t have a specific date yet,” Walljasper said. “We should have a better idea going into September, probably mid-September.”

In the summer of 2014, the Ellendale City Council approved preliminary platting for the new gas station to be constructed on the west side of the interstate off of Highway 30 moving the project one step closer to completion.

At that time, it was said the site will feature a building that’s about 4,600 square feet with pumps for diesel and regular, unleaded gas.

The Casey’s site was home to the former Trucker’s Inn east of Ellendale. The buildings belonging to the inn were demolished after the city voted to move forward with the project.

Ellendale Deputy Clerk Kim Zimprich said the City Council approved a grand opening for Casey’s on Oct. 1 with details to follow.

A Casey’s General Store is also in the works in Medford east of Interstate 35 on Central Avenue, also known as County Road 12. Construction on that project hasn’t started yet.

Casey’s announced plans last fall to purchase Ole’s Eastside Shell on East Main Street in Albert Lea last fall, with plans to bring its flagship pizza and doughnuts to the store. The company has since purchased the building, and with that came some renovations of the building.

Casey’s is based in Ankeny, Iowa. According to its website, the company has 1,865 corporate stores. It was founded in 1959.