Wesco gas pumps were blocked off while construction began in March.
The Big Rapids Wesco is the only Wesco in the area without gas. The pumps have been blocked off to prevent people from entering the area. The store is still open, selling a variety of snacks, drinks and lottery tickets.
Secondary English education freshman Kyren Passenier is part of Wesco’s rewards program.
“If there was a Wesco that was 20 minutes away, I would still think about it,” Passenier said. “Just because I would rather be able to use my rewards and get like money back for buying gas from them than going to another gas station and ending up just like paying more overall.”
The closest Wesco that has gas is in Reed City, so those looking to get their rewards for buying gas in Big Rapids will have to travel roughly 30 minutes to obtain their rewards.
Psychology junior Abby Winkle noticed that the gas pumps were barricaded when she drove past the area.
“I do wonder why they have to barb it off,” Winkle said. “Are people just gonna try to use it anyway, don’t they see the sign? I feel like the bars and the caging are a little excessive.”
Winkle plans to continue to go to Wesco for the convenience store, as she has been going there weekly.
“I’ll probably go to Wesco still for the slushies because that’s kind of our little tradition,” Winkle said. “We do that before we watch ‘The Bachelor’ on Mondays.”
There is currently no planned time for when Wesco plans to reopen their gas pumps, but they will continue to run as a convenience store.
Wesco declined to comment at the time of this article.