A Johnny Quik and Chevron gas station is in the works near Van Ness Avenue and Highway 180. Photo by Edward Smith

A new fuel station and convenience store is coming to the Tower District this summer.

George Beal, president of Beal Developments in Fresno, said the eight-pump Johnny Quik and Chevron station is — at the moment — looking at a June 1 opening.

Inside the high-profile location at Van Ness and Belmont avenues just off Highway 180 will be a Subway and Rare Earth Coffee Co. The store will also serve beer and wine.

“We added the Rare Earth Coffee because there just isn’t a Starbucks in the area,” Beal said.

Passers-by will notice the gas station stands taller than most gas stations. That is to complement the Tower District aesthetic, Beal said. He wanted the food mart to have more of a mixed-use look. It will have windows to give the appearance of apartments on top and retail on the bottom.

The Tower District Committee had to approve the elevation plans for the project.

“If there was enough parking, we’d put in apartments,” Beal said.

Since a gas station was the more practical option, he wanted it to be unique.

“We thought we’d do more than just a boxy look,” he added.

The gas station has been in the works since 2015, when Beal first submitted plans to the city. Beal Developments works on installing gas stations throughout the Central Valley. Beal and his brother both own Johnny Quiks in the area.

Platinum Engineering Solutions in Madera is doing the building’s structural engineering. Precision Civil Engineering in Fresno is doing the parking and RLC Design did the architecture.