New Casey's opened today in Rock Falls

ROCK FALLS – The city’s new Casey’s General Store, at 1604 First Ave., opened at 5 a.m. today.

The 4,600-square-foot store, the largest the company builds, will be open 24 hours a day. Rock Falls also has Casey’s stores at 900 Dixon Ave., and 1201 E. Rock Falls Road. The company has no plans to close any of the older stores.

The grand opening is scheduled for Sept. 16 and 17, and food and drink specials will be advertised prior to those days, said Sam James, a Casey’s corporate spokesman.

The newest Casey’s was built on land bought from local businessman Pete Harkness. An office building at the site was demolished to make room for the convenience store.

A new subdivision was created to combine several separate lots, a vacated alley, and the Casey’s site. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission OK’d the creation of Casey’s Rock Falls Subdivision in the area at the northwest corner of U.S. 30 and state Route 40. The City Council approved the change Aug. 2.

The Casey’s project expedited some long-planned infrastructure upgrades in the area. Some utility poles were taken down and replaced with underground electrical cables. Comcast also needed to move some fiber-optic cables to accommodate the project.

The final inspection was done Tuesday, and all of the permitting was in place, Deputy Fire Chief Bill Milby said.

Construction also should begin soon at 1800 First Ave., site of a planned Dunkin’ Donuts. The company has been finishing several other projects in the region, and plans to open the Rock Falls location some time in December.