Plans for Convenience Store in Yorkville Denied By Pottsville Zoning

Plans for a convenience store along W. Market St. in the Yorkville section of Pottsville were denied Thursday by the City’s Zoning Hearing Board.

Raman & Jass Inc. wanted to put a convenience store in the former Candles & Collectibles store at 1942 W. Market St. The property originally housed the F.J. Sauers hardware and toy store.

The board unanimously denied the request for a variance.

Convenience Store Denied at Former Candles & Collectibles Store

The proposed store was vehemently protested by numerous residents in the neighborhood. Many in attendance at Thursday’s hearing believed the owner, Simarjit Singh Sooch (or Sooch Singh), wanted to fill the store with Pennsylvania Skill machines and nicotine products. They also said a convenience store in this location added no value to their neighborhood and traffic to it would make an intersection more dangerous.

At the hearing, Singh was looking for a variance to operate a convenience store inside a residential zone of Pottsville. The residential and commercial districts in that neighborhood are divided by 19th St.

Singh, who purchased the building in February 2024 for $113,000, said the opposite and told the zoning board that he planned to operate a simple convenience store at this location, selling tobacco and nicotine products, snacks, drinks, and some frozen foods.

He said the store would likely be open from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m., which also drew the ire of some who opposed it opening there.

Singh said there would be no Pennsylvania Skill machines at this location. And he also had no plans to sell alcohol.

Neighbors were concerned that what Singh was proposing would look similar to his other convenience store located at 1000 W. Market St., in the former Six Pack Shack store, and that it would contain Pennsylvania Skill machines. Singh’s other store has 2 or 3 machines, he said.

Despite his sworn testimony that the store wouldn’t have those machines, at least one board member had his doubts.

Zoning board member Greg Wagner wondered why so much space was needed inside the proposed store area if there were only going to be drink coolers and space for the other things Singh said would be included in it.

That seemed to hint that Singh was planning on putting PA Skill machines in there, despite the owner said there wouldn’t be any.

“It seems to me something else is going to happen there,” Wagner told Singh. “I question the need for all that space.”

Board member Mary Ann Conway wondered if Singh had plans to paint signs on the building, similar to those at his other store on W. Market St.

She was looking for an assurance from him that he “will not plaster the building with signs all over this thing.”

Singh said he didn’t plan to paint signs on the sides of the building, like those that can clearly be seen at the other store.

Zoning board solicitor Gretchen Sterns told members that they could make approval conditional that Singh not paint signs on the building.

Singh, through his attorney, Shane Hobbs, actually agreed to several conditions from the board, if it approved his variance request, such as not putting signs in the many windows of the property or painting signs on the side of the building.

Conway didn’t seem to think that parking on 19th St. would be an issue, despite some objections from neighbors who attended the hearing.

They testified that what Singh proposed wasn’t needed in their neighborhood because there were already convenience stores nearby.

Vincent Wychunas told board members that Singh’s proposed hours of operation were “totally unacceptable.”

“Do the right thing to ensure the integrity of this neighborhood,” he told the zoning board, urging them to vote against the variance request.

Jordan Hoke, who lives near the proposed store, told the board that what Singh was proposing was basically a “smoke shop” and that it “serves no purpose” in the neighborhood.

“It is doing Pottsville a great disservice,” he testified, also urging the board to oppose the plans.

Ty Gardner echoed those sentiments, wondering, “What improvement does this bring to the neighborhood?”

Gina Gargano testified that more traffic on 19th St. would make an already dangerous intersection (with W. Market St.) even more dangerous.

She added that what Singh was proposing would not better serve residents in the area.

“We have always had very nice, complimentary businesses that support and serve not only Yorkville residents but the entire city. The neighborhood and this intersection will become more dangerous while simultaneously providing no value if the variance is granted,” she testified.

She said granting a variance to Singh at this location would decrease property values in the neighborhood.

As board members wrapped up their unanimous denial of the variance application, those who remained in the gallery let out a thunderous applause in favor of the decision.

Singh’s lawyer, Shane Hobbs, told The Canary he plans to file an appeal of the City’s decision on Thursday night.

^{Featured photo caption: Attorney Shane Hobbs consults with his client, Sooch Singh and his interpreter, during Thursday night’s hearing.}

Subscribe to Coal Region Canary

Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!

Support Coal Region Canary

Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...