By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM – Grant’s Gas and Groceries, 6759 U.S. Rt. 11, has closed

Brad Grant said the expenses associated with fuel tank problems are what tipped the balance against his keeping the convenience store and gas pumps going.

“It was just too much upkeep cost to keep it going so we shut it down,” he said.

“The whole system needed replacing and it’s been nickel-and-diming me, and I didn’t want to sink any more into it.”

Grant said the impulse to close was not his first thought.

“I’ve been trying to sell it for a couple of years,” he said. “I tried to see if any fuel company wanted to come in and help. It’s a tough business right now, the fuel business.”

Grant said he had worked there for 17 years, since 1997, first working for the previous owners Mike and Brenda Saidel, then buying the business from them in 2000.

“I would like to thank everybody, and let everybody know that my wife and I and our family really appreciate all the regular customers, and the local businesses on Rt. 11 that supported me from day one.

“I don’t even like to call them customers. They’re more like family members,” Grant said.

He said he hasn’t been on the job market for some time, but he will be looking for work in “customer service, and repair of some sort.”