Summer Campbell-Kern Valley Sun

Sierra Gateway Market in Southlake hosted the official grand opening of its new gas station on Saturday, March 31. While the gas station and surplus store have been open for nearly two weeks, the official unveiling took place during the 18th annual Fishing Derby.

The station was marked with a larger than life red, white and blue balloon, and numerous excited towns people. Paul Andrade said he is “ecstatic that the gas station has opened.” Andrade lives in Onyx where gas is 20cents a gallon higher than at the new station.

Josh Hefner, Zack Hefner, and Justin Smith enjoy refreshments at James Sierra Gateway Market’s grand opening Saturday. Guests at the grand opening enjoyed a barbeque, music,and even a little an archery.

The grand opening not only paraded the lowest gas prices in town, but also offered visitors a good meal and fun for the kids. While parents were filling up the gas tank or grabbing a tri-tip sandwich, the kids were learning how to use hunting bows and arrows, thanks to an archery station set up just outside the new store. The new business also helped those anglers reel in the tagged fish as many fishers stopped by to pick up all their fishing supplies.

Christine Dochterman, a long time employee of Sierra Gateway, said that the gas station has been a big hit. “We have been doing business like crazy,” she said.

In addition to the discounted gas, the wide variety of hunting, fishing and recreation supplies offered in the gas station's new sporting/convenient store seem to be drawing in even more customers. Dochterman said “People have come from the other side of the lake for the sporting goods.”

The station's new store is open from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily while gas is available 24 hours a day. Dorothy Ellison of Mt. Mesa said the new gas station definitely makes Sierra Gateway in Southlake the “one stop shop. If you can't get what you want in the gas station's convenient store then you can go into the market,” remarked Ellison.

While the official grand opening has passed, Sierra Gateway Market in Southlake anticipates the voulme of South Fork, Onyx and Mt. Mesa customers to continue.