Former Swansea CVS getting makeover for new business. Here are the details
Ongoing activity at a former CVS location at 1803 N. Illinois St. in Swansea has become more noticeable as the building’s façade is updated to accommodate a new business.
The development is for a new gas station with an inside national chain restaurant, liquor sales and a gaming area, according to village records.
Dan Thomas, Swansea’s director of building and zoning, said the interior and exterior work is currently in progress, as is site preparation for the installation of fuel tanks for the gas station.
In an email to the BND, Thomas said owner Didi Patel is moving as quickly as possible to complete the project. As for when the project will be completed, “exact timelines can be hard to pinpoint as many variables may exist that would not exist in new construction,” Thomas wrote.
Outside demolition for the gas station and convenience store -- Royals Market -- is in progress. Fuel tanks will be installed next week, Patel said in a phone interview Monday.
Details obtained from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal website show that the site will be excavated for a 10-foot by 38-foot, 22,000-gallon split tank to hold 12,000 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline, 5,000 gallons of premium gasoline and 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
Patel’s business partner, Keyur Patel, gave a target completion date of late March 2026.
Keyur Patel said they secured The Taco Spot as the on-site restaurant. The Taco Spot has one location in St. Charles, Missouri, and others in Arizona, Texas, Florida, Utah and West Virginia.
Didi Patel said they have multiple businesses operating in Illinois and Missouri, including Royals Liquor convenience stores. Three Royals Market gas stations are in the works, he said.
Earlier this year, Patel applied for a zoning change to accommodate a proposed gas station and convenience store at 847 N. Green Mount Road in Shiloh.
In February, a petition was created on change.org to oppose the development. Residents expressed concerns that a development at that site could negatively affect existing traffic conditions and those living in the adjacent subdivisions.
The application was withdrawn, Village Clerk Brenda Kern said on Feb. 18. She said a traffic study would be conducted at a later date.
Didi Patel said on Monday they are no longer pursuing the Shiloh project.
