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Beaufort county residents could have another fuel/food option on Washington’s western edge just in time for the holiday travel season.

Royal Farms, a Baltimore, Md. based convenience store chain has already begun site preparation on a 1.5 acre parcel on the north side of Fifth Street as it intersects with 15^thStreet and Clark’s Neck Rd. on the way out of town toward Greenville.

Cloverfield Farms Dairy owns the company and has around 250 locations in Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

According to Washington City Manager Jonathan Russell, the company is looking to expand southward.

“They told us they want to get into some untapped markets and are looking to open 15 or 20 stores in North Carolina in the next couple of years,” he explained. “This site meet their criteria and we think this a prime location just off the U.S. 17 By-Pass”

Currently, Royal Farms doesn’t have any stores in North Carolina, but wants to bring their menu of made to order chicken, subs, sandwiches and wraps to the area by the end of the year.

Two homes sit on the front of the property, with the rest of the parcel, formerly owned by the Hampton Inn, is vacant.

“They are similar to Sheetz, which is right across the street, but they’ve done their due diligence and think our market is attractive enough to enter,” Russell said. “We are happy to welcome them and it gives our residents and tourists another option for food and gas in a great location.”