Safeway Gas Station Pumped Up for Opening Day

Local shoppers can now pick up groceries and fill up their car at the .

The grocery store’s brand new gas station celebrated its grand opening on Thursday as customers took advantage of its discounted gas prices.

The location has 12 pump stations equipped with eco-friendly nozzles that prevent vapors from escaping into the atmosphere, said Safeway’s Fuel Operations Manager Aaron Nelson.

The facility also has underground storage tanks with double protection and tertiary alarm systems to alert any leakage.

While the nozzles may be friendly to the environment, they seemed a little tricky for the first-time customers.

“It’s going to be a different type of a nozzle than the customers are used to,” Nelson said, who was on hand to assist customers for the opening day.

He said the key is to press down the nozzle a little harder in order for it to seal in the vapors.

“Our customers have been patient,” Nelson said. “It’s been a great day so far.”

The Gig Harbor store is currently offering a rewards program where shoppers can earn double points for the next two weeks.

“Every $100 shoppers spend at the store, they’ll get 20 cents off a gallon,” he explained. “They can bank their rewards all the way up to a $1 off per gallon.”

The pay-at-pump service is available 24 hours a day while the kiosk is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.