Feb. 1. The town board Monday night approved plans for a new Circle K at the southwest corner of Hwy. 115 and Bailey Road. The 4,500 square foot store is a prototype for new Circle K stores that will feature fresh prepared food, more landscaping and outdoor seating.

The new retail concept is called “food-venience, a beautiful place for people to grab a quick meal,” a Circle K executive said. The store will include bike racks, adding to the pedestrian-friendly scale of the project, which is also expected to include an awning or pergola over the seating area.

Circle K has also bought all the Kangaroo Express stores, including the existing gas and food mart at 20008 W. Catawba. It will also be converted to a Circle K.

9/11 Monument moving forward
The 9/11 Monument project in front of Fire Station No. 1 on Main Street is expected to be done by Sept. 11 of this year. RE:site Studio from Houston was selected as the top choice by a special committee that includes Cornelius first responders. The design that was submitted by RE:site, titled “Never Forget,” features two monolithic stone pillars about 12 or 15 feet tall, on either side of the vertical steel I-beam salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.

The project will cost about $100,000. So far $23,000 has been raised.