| UPDATE - Former Grantsville Mayor, Gary Knight has offered some questioning views of the coming of Tudors Biscuit World and Ginos Pizza on town property. See Letter to the Editor
ORIGINAL STORY: DECADE LONG BATTLE OVER GRANTSVILLE'S 'PIT' COULD BE ENDING
By Bob Weaver
Could biscuits, gravy and more pizza be coming to Grantsville?
Grantsville, not unlike dozens of West Virginia towns in rural communities, has felt the exodus of businesses since the explosion of malls and box stores in the 1960s.
That exodus has also taken a toll on the town's population, now down to about 550 people.
There is virtually no construction of new buildings for businesses, with many unoccupied structures falling in disrepair.
Grantsville Mayor Curtis Garretson says the groundwork is in place to utilize a piece of real estate that has long been an eyesore at the intersection of Rt. 16 and 5, known as "the pit."
Garretson says an agreement with Ginos Pizza and Tudors Biscuit World is moving forward, the town is getting legal clearance for use of the property.
He said the opening of the new business could be in 2014.
The property has long been an issue of dispute and court battles for over a decade, related to proposals to use the property for a convenience store, a community recreation center, a banking facility for Calhoun Banks or to build a new town hall.
The Ginos-Biscuit World company has agreed to lease the property for $800 a month for 20 years, and efforts are underway to lease sections of the property adjacent the highways owned by the State of West Virginia for the project.
Garretson says he is hopeful to have the lease to present to town council in November.
In speculation is the use of the old Calhoun Super Service property and real estate owned by Steve Satterfield, with indications he could remove the old structures and make it available for a convenience store.
See Some "Pit" History - CALHOUN BANKS DROPS ACQUIRING TOWN-OWNED PROPERTY FOR NEW FACILITY - We Thanked Them For Their Interest, Says CEO Bennett
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