Sunnyside Saluda, a gasoline and convenience store, opened on Oct. 3 in Saluda.

The store, owned by Sam Elattar, occupies the location of a former 7-Eleven near the Middlesex County Courthouse.

Elattar said the family-operated business has a total of 10 employees, who staff the new Saluda store and a sister store at Shacklefords that opened in 2005. The new store has eight pumps for gasoline and one pump for diesel. Inside, the store carries an assortment of convenience store items—minus the food. But that will change, Elattar said, when he opens a kitchen at the Saluda store in December that will prepare pizza, chicken, sandwiches and salads. Also, Elattar said he plans to add other products at his new location.

Elattar began in the retail business in 2001 when he opened a grocery in Tappahannock. He later sold that business. Originally from Egypt, he now resides in West Point....