Luke Oil Co. executives say the Hobart-based company is planning to increase its retail fuel presence in the region and develop other properties company owners hold.
Luke Oil Vice President Tom Collins Jr. said the diversified company plans to open at least five new gas stations and convenience stores in 2012. New stores in Cedar Lake, Hobart and East Chicago will add to its portfolio of 25 locations in Northwest Indiana.
Late last year, the chain opened gas stations and convenience stores on U.S. 30 and Cline Avenue in Schererville at a former Shell location and at a former Oasis fuel site at 93rd Avenue and Taft Street in Merrillville. The two locations employ 23 full-time workers total.
"As a team, we continue to focus on our vision to become the premier brand and market share leader in Northwest Indiana," Collins Jr. said in a statement.
Founded in 1967, family-owned and operated Luke Oil has about 600 employees. Luke Oil also is a petroleum wholesaler and fuel distributor, and it owns County Line Orchard in Hobart.
The Collins family also is targeting commercial development of Hammond land holdings in which it has an ownership stake.
Collins and his partners acquired parcels near Walmart's Robertsdale site on Fifth Avenue in 2004. He said the increase in traffic near the Walmart, which opened Oct. 31, is drawing the attention of other businesses.
"Timing is everything in real estate development, and we are very fortunate to have this level of interest in a down market," Collins said.
He said there is interest from retailers, sit-down restaurants and banks in an area that can accommodate 120,000 square feet of retail space. And if construction started this year, retail establishments could open in early 2013.
But before any construction could begin, Collins said the next step is to secure incentives from the city of Hammond and have approvals to realign traffic signals and entrances in the area. He said the city's input will dictate the final site plan and what entities, if any, locate there.