North Newton Casey’s store to close

The Casey’s General Store near former Maytag Plant 2 and Trinity Structural Towers will close its doors for the final time Wednesday.

Store manager Bill Perrenoud said he has come to terms with the store, 1006 N. 19th Ave. E., closing and is happy that eight out of the 10 employees currently at the store, including Perrenoud have been relocated to other branches in Newton.

“Everybody here was offered a job with Casey’s,” Perrenoud said. “The two that didn’t, one started a new job and the other one is going back to school, so that is good. There are good things that are coming out of that for them.”

The gas station was a popular location for those who work at the city’s largest employers along with many people who traveled to and from the area on business. With the closing, customers will have to travel further south to First Avenue convenience store locations for gas and food needs.

“We got an early morning rush from factory workers going to work,” Perrenoud said. “We got a really good noon from Trinity ... we also have quite a few truckers who stop.”

Gary Van Baale, of Newton, voiced several concerns about closing the branch, including that it is the only gas station north of Newton and having it close will cause an inconvenience to those who live nearby.

“The reason I was told (it is closing) is because remodeling would cost too much,” Van Baale said. “Lots of trucks stop and use the store, and it is like a mom and pop store in Newton. I would hate to see it go.”

Casey’s corporate office did not respond to a request for comment about the reasons behind closing the store.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com