A new Wawa convenience store and gas station is beginning to take shape along St. Georges Avenue, on the site of a former fitness center.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment granted unanimous approval to the application in August 2016 that would build a 5,051-square-foot convenience store and 5,280-square foot canopy over six fuel pumps. The former Power & Fitness building at 280 St. Georges Ave., was demolished last August.

A South Jersey staple for many years, Wawa has been increasing its presence in northern Jersey for some time. There are no fewer than six new locations expected to open this year, including Roselle Park, Newark, Dover, East Hanover and Jersey City, and plans in the works for construction in Springfield, Edison and Linden. There also are locations planned as far north as Sussex County, in Frankford Township and the Lake Hopatcong section of Jefferson Township, and in Red Bank.

The 3.6-acre property is comprised of two lots (Block 6, Lots 3 and 4), one listed as the St. Georges Avenue address and the other with frontage on Murray Street. The entity 280 St. Georges Ave., LLC, purchased the property almost a year ago from Rahway-based Giacobbe and Sons Contractors for $2.3 million.

280 St. Georges Ave., LLC is a single-purpose entity created by AST Development. The Lavallette-based real estate development firm partnered on the construction Metro Rahway, a 116-unit rental complex along Campbell Street that was completed in 2014. AST Development also has approval for a 219-unit rental complex on the site of the former Center Circle athletic facility on Main Street. Construction on that development is expected to begin later this year.

The property generated a tax bill of about $76,736 for the 2017 tax year based on an overall assessment of $1,175,500, according to property records.

Power & Fitness closed at the end of 2014 and prior to that operated as a Pyramid Fitness. The previous use as a gym was granted variances in 1993, which included Remsen Street.