Uncertainty around 4th gas station in Borden-Carleton 'excruciating,' says business owner

Wayne Thibodeau · CBC News

· Posted: May 14, 2025 7:42 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

Hearings continued for a 2nd time connected a arguable improvement adjacent the Confederation Bridge successful Borden-Carleton.

D.P. Murphy wants to physique a "Welcome Plaza" with a 24-hour Irving state station, Tim Hortons, convenience store, and two 3,000-square-foot retail spaces.  

Commissioners with the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission heard Wednesday astir the impacts that task whitethorn person connected Ceretti's Grocery and Hardware, the state presumption and retail store located adjacent doorway to the projected development. 

Chad Ceretti, proprietor of Ceretti's, told commissioners helium enactment immoderate plans to renovate or grow connected clasp aft proceeding astir the D.P. Murphy plan. 

Asked however that imaginable contention made him feel, Ceretti said "terrified would beryllium the archetypal connection that comes to mind." 

He aboriginal added, "The uncertainty implicit the past fig of years has been excruciating."

WATCH | Owner of Borden-Carleton store 'terrified' implicit imaginable of 4th state presumption successful the town:

During the IRAC hearing, lawyers for D.P. Murphy tried to overgarment a representation of Ceretti's arsenic a concern that is already struggling.

Ceretti was asked if helium felt his store was profitable. 

"Yes, I judge so," helium said. 

But fiscal records provided to the committee amusement Ceretti's state income person been connected a steep decline, with the concern really reporting tiny losses successful 2022 and 2023. 

Ceretti said Irving's determination to extremity its declaration with his presumption has had a large interaction connected his business. Corporate clients with Irving cards tin nary longer substance up astatine his station.

He present sells state nether the Mobil banner.

D.P. Murphy's  lawyers besides pointed retired that Ceretti's has not been renovated for immoderate time, is not wheelchair accessible, has nary EV charging stations, and lone has a azygous washroom that hasn't been updated successful immoderate time.

Ceretti didn't argue, saying that's "part of its charm." 

Report shows 'significant losses'

Commissioners besides heard details from an MRSB study prepared for Ceretti's that looked astatine the imaginable interaction of a 4th state presumption successful the western Prince Edward Island gateway community.

It showed "significant concern losses" for Ceretti's, with a driblet successful concern of astir 25 per cent oregon much successful 2026, erstwhile the caller presumption would open.

WATCH | A recap of time 1 of the IRAC hearings:

It said those losses would shrink successful 2027, and the business would marque wealth successful 2028.

Still, the study says the losses would "most likely" effect "in the imminent closure of the business."

Ceretti told the commissioners that helium can't foretell the future, but said if his concern declines excessively overmuch helium would beryllium forced to adjacent his doors.

The proceeding wraps up connected Wednesday.