Business Today

Warehouse retailer Sam's Club is adding a gas station to its Cape Girardeau location.

The store's general manager, Todd Davis, said construction started several weeks ago. He said it takes six to eight weeks for completion.

"We expect to be pumping by the middle of the summer," he said.

The station, with automated pumps, will be situated toward the outer edge of the parking lot between Wal-Mart and Sam's. There will not be a convenience store.

A gift card or Sam's Club card will be needed to activate the pumps, which accept the gift cards as payment or credit or debit cards.

The gas stations are becoming more common at Sam's Clubs across the country, Davis said.

Davis said the stations are generally 3 to 5 cents cheaper than street stations.

Sam's Club operates 136 gas stations at its more than 495 stores. The company's gas stations are in 26 states. Typically, the gas stations have six dispensers for a total of 12 pumps, though Davis said specifics on the local station have not yet been determined.