By Malcolm Butler
Motorists driving north or south past the old Green Clinic building on Hwy 167 on the south side of Ruston have seen some on-going dirt work over the past nine months or so.
Curious minds have wanted to know.
Camille Lott, marketing director for Lott Oil Co., confirmed on Wednesday that the company has bought the land and is in the midst of having a Shop A Lott built on that property.
“We are hoping to open in 2025, but at this point, we are so far behind the original date there is not guarantee,” said Camille, who stressed it could be sometime in 2026.
So why Ruston for the 15th Shop A Lott store location?
“Ruston has such a great economy,” said Camille, a former Louisiana Tech track and field star. “My dad has owned a coupe of pieces of land in Ruston with the hope we would eventually move business up that way.”
According to Camille, the Ruston location is the furthest north location for the convenience store.
Shop A Lott falls under the parent company of Lott Oil, a wholesale gas and oil distribution company, according to Lott.
“We actually have two bulk plants up north, one in Monroe and one in Shreveport,” said Camille. “We are slowly expanding north.”
Camille said the gas station/convenience store — which is being built by Petron — will sell Chevron branded gas. This particular Shop A Lott will include 16 fueling positions plus three diesel pumps.
In addition to selling fuel, the Shop A Lott will include a dining area.
“There will be a dining area that will seat around 50 people,” said Camille. “The hope is we will pull in that ballpark crowd (from the Ruston Sports Complex) in between games.”
Shop A Lott will include a hot deli that will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“Those are your hot box items, like meat pies, chicken strips,” said Camille. “Or you can order anything from hamburgers to po-boys. We will have a hot lunch special each day. It may be baked chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes. It may be sliced brisket with baked beans and potato salad.”
Camille said the store will sell all of the major brands, including Coca Cola, Community Coffee, Frito-Lay, Icee.
“It will have large family-friendly bathrooms,” said Camille. “I don’t know the hours just yet, but I know it won’t be 24-7.”
Camille said it would also include an ATM and an air pump.
