Elkader Pit Stop’s new addition nearing completion
Pictured is the Elkader Pit Stop gas station during construction of its new nearly 1,600-square-foot addition designed to improve customer experience and operating efficiency. The expansion includes a larger kitchen, new bathroom and expanded retail space.
By Kaitlyn Kuehl-Berns | Times-Register
The management and staff at the Elkader Pit Stop gas station are excited to soon unveil the business’s new nearly 1,600-square-foot addition designed to improve customer experience and operating efficiency. The expansion includes a larger kitchen, new bathrooms and expanded retail space, continuing the focus on customer service and service expansion introduced since Josh Pope purchased the business.
Pope, who bought the gas station in August 2022, came into the business with valuable knowledge of commercial cooking and customer service from his time owning JNJ Pizza from 2004 to 2018 and managing Norby’s from 2008 to 2022.
Tina Tieden, the store manager, has worked at the Elkader Pit Stop since Pope purchased the business. She previously managed the Speede Shop gas station in Garnavillo for nearly six years.
Tieden noted, “Josh has a lot of retail experience, and because he is mayor, he has a good understanding of what the city needs and wants what is best for it,” she said. “He didn’t know much about the gas pumps, but I did. We both have a lot of the same skills, and between the two of us, we’ve really been able to build.”
After Pope purchased the establishment, needed upgrades were completed to the fuel equipment. Improvements to customer experience and business efficiency have included adding new products, expanding kitchen hours, adding a second register and increasing staffing.
“There was a need in the community for different things, so we worked to accommodate their requests,” Tieden said. Products added based on customer requests include liquor, cigarettes, energy drinks and prebiotic and specialty sodas.
Tieden explained, “I’ve worked with the cigarette companies to develop contracts to allow us to offer deals to customers.”
Some of the specialty products added include Alani Nu, Bloom, Poppi, Blackberry Dr. Pepper, ginger beer and various bottled waters.
“I try to stay up on what is trending,” Tieden said. “Alani Nu is huge here. I will order 10 cases at a time if it’s something our customers want, because I want it to be here for them.”
Strengthening food offerings was another priority. “This meant consistently keeping food out and keeping it fresh,” Tieden explained.
Kitchen hours were expanded from after lunch until close. “We wanted to make sure if anybody comes in at any time, even right up until 9 o’clock, there is something in the food warmer.” These changes have resulted in daily kitchen sales 10 times higher than when they began.
To better serve customers, the business added a second register and additional staff members both out front and in the kitchen. The staff pool grew from six employees when Pope purchased the business to just under 20 today. “Everybody’s cross-trained and good about helping each other when needed,” Tieden said.
Serving customers efficiently is important to the staff at the Elkader Pit Stop. Whether serving travelers passing through, families after a ball game, visitors during local events or workers stopping in during the afternoon lunch hour, “it is important for us to get everyone in and out and keep them happy,” Tieden said.
Planning for the expansion project began in March 2025, prompted by increased customer traffic following the closure of other local gas stations and management’s desire to continue better serving their patrons.
With the original portion of the building measuring just over 1,900 square feet, the new 36-by-44-foot addition nearly doubles the space. The improvement allows for a larger kitchen outfitted with new equipment, a walk-in cooler and a walk-in freezer. The expanded kitchen will allow the business to offer Chester’s fried chicken.
“We wanted to find a niche in the community that wasn’t already being filled,” Tieden said. “We’re really excited.”
The new space will also allow the business to offer to-go orders, which were previously not possible due to limited space.
Accessibility is another key improvement. The addition will include new men’s and women’s bathrooms with multiple stalls, including ADA-accessible stalls, as well as a changing station. The new entrance will be step-free.
Added retail space will allow the business to continue expanding product offerings. A new beer cave will free up space in existing coolers for additional soda and beverage options. A counter with stools and a charging station has also been added. The new layout will allow bathroom and checkout lines to form without taking up retail space, while deliveries will be routed through a new door away from the register area.
As with many construction projects, the timeline was extended as the project moved through financing, permits, inspections, plan revisions and material delays. Final components include exterior brickwork, a food inspection, professional cleaning and stocking.
Throughout the project, a number of local businesses have been utilized, including Milo Dundee as the main contractor, along with Erickson Underground, Ethan Koehn Construction, Bennington Construction, Mueser Lumber, Diversity Coating, Central Plumbing & Heating, Kregle Construction, Neiland Refrigeration, AM Painting and others.
Tieden highlighted Pope’s thoughtful approach to planning. “He’s always thinking about things and figuring out a way to make things work,” she said. “Josh has been so good at keeping everyone updated and involving the staff throughout the project.”
“It’s not just about what I can do for myself,” Pope said. “You have to look at the big picture and how this will affect everyone. At the end of the day, it’s about better serving our customers and our community.”
