You can still fill up at this station – with food

Posted 6/23/22

In the world of building renovations, there are times when it just comes together as if it were meant to be. That pretty much explains the transition of the old Sinclair gas station on the northwest …

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You can still fill up at this station – with food

Posted

In the world of building renovations, there are times when it just comes together as if it were meant to be. That pretty much explains the transition of the old Sinclair gas station on the northwest corner of TX 11 and TX 37 in Winnsboro.

Just this past Memorial Day, owners Cele and John Carpenter celebrated the first anniversary of the Sinclair Market at that location.  

Repurposing an older building is always an iffy thing. Not only must all present day building codes be met, but investigation can always reveal surprises in older construction techniques, hidden damage, infestations and use of now-outlawed materials.

Often it can be a surprise that there aren’t any surprises at hand – which is probably unusual among builders. The old Sinclair station was definitely the exception to the rule. 

To mark the beautifully-restored building and new business at the prominent corner in downtown Winnsboro, project managers Kara Pyle and Landon Hamilton took time to discuss the restoration. 

They advised that the building had been purchased by the Carpenters in 2016 with renovations commencing in 2019. Due to the effect of building materials lag-time during the pandemic, the project took two years to complete. 

Hamilton explained that initial testing of the building was the critical step in the process.

“We received no negative results from any of the tests we conducted on the building or site,” he explained. Fortuitously, the fuels tanks had already been removed by a previous owner. 

The present market is practically twice the size of the original service station. When facing the building, the right (east side) of the building is the original, with two repair bays to the left (west side). 

The original station and service bays were transformed into the store area of the market. They are chockfull of specialty foods, local produce, gifts, unique food items and to-go lunches.

Extending further west is a new extension to the original structure. It contains a commercial kitchen, seating area, check-out counter, storage and bathrooms. The addition was skillfully done and functional, and does not detract from the nostalgic style of the Sinclair station.   

Two outdoor seating areas provide plenty of room for folks to take lunch or for groups to gather. One is in the front under the covered fueling area, while a larger area is behind the building and accessible from the shop as well as from the east sidewalk behind the building. 

Pyle noted that the conceptual drawings and renderings were done in 2018.

 She explained, “Given that we had no negative results from building tests and inspections, we could retain as much of the original character of the building as possible.” 

Those early conceptual drawings came closer to fruition day-by-day.

Pyle remarked that the intent was a neighborhood ‘grab and go.’ The Carpenters intended the café as a way to give back to the community of Winnsboro. 

Hamilton and Pyle have returned to Dallas where other projects await them. Operations Manager Kaitlynn Rush is now responsible for all aspects of market operations. 

A Wills Point native, Rush has relocated to Winnsboro with her husband after building a successful medical supply company in Houston. Her vision for the market is simple: to improve the product and service every single day.

Rush explained that the market strives to provide unique, wholesome items. Local producers are prominently featured, including Jersey Girls (dairy), the Stewart Ranch (beef) and New Morning Acres Farms (seasonal vegetables).   

“We place great value in customer feedback,” Rush offered. She advised that feedback has already resulted in expanding service from just a plate-of-the-day to the complete menu. It has also resulted in installation of an espresso machine and a featured daily ice cream offering.

The success realized in the first year of operation is having telling results, as the market has just recently catered its first event – a year-end lunch for teachers at Winnsboro schools.

In the middle of a recent Friday afternoon, youngsters looking for ice cream, a gentleman with a coffee, a visiting family from Dallas and two local ladies happened to be in the store at the time of the interview. 

Based on that throughput, it appears that the Carpenter’s vision of a market that would give-back to the community had hit its mark.