By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The site of the former Love's Country Store in Hays, 2500 Vine, is seeing some activity for the first time since the convenience store closed in early May 2024.
An excavator was at work Thursday morning to demolish the empty store and gas pump canopy.
According to information provided to the Hays Area Board of Zoning and Appeals, Credit Union of America will open a new location on the former Love's property.
This would be the first Credit Union of America facility in Hays, said Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director.
There are 16 other branches across Kansas with the majority based in Wichita.
Plans also call for a new detached ITM (interactive teller machine) canopy.
The current gas pump canopy sits eight feet from the west property line.
The credit union wants to place its canopy further to the west, which would also require eliminating two of the four approaches to the lot.
A public hearing for the ITM canopy setback requests has been scheduled for 4 p.m. March 17 at Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.
Love's Country Store operated in that location since the late 1970s.