What a Gas: New Arco on Crown Valley

Love it or hate it, almost everyone needs gasoline. And as of Tuesday, there's a new place to get it in Mission Viejo.

A new Arco opened on Crown Valley Tuesday at 2 p.m., although it took longer than expected. Mazi Bahadori, son-in-law of one of the owners, says the site has been home to an Arco station since 1969.

In 2007, BP began the process of selling the property to two limited liability corporations, JS OILCO LLC headed by Javad Shahabian and RMF Investment Group LLC led by Ryan Chavez. But the financial crisis made it tough to complete the purchase, Bahadori said.

From 2007 until 2011, Javad's daughter Layla obtained permits for the project and got BP to financially support the project, Bahadori said. But still no lender could be found.

"For about three years this project just kind of sat there," Bahadori said. "(The owner) was just kind of having a string of bad luck."

Finally escrow closed on the site last year, Bahadori said. Over the last six months they've dug up the gas station's underground tanks and rebuilt the gas dispensers and convenience store.

Now the site has double the gas dispensers—16—and 2,400 square feet of convenience store space with everything from hot dogs and beer to fresh fruit delivered daily.

How does it feel to be in business?

“It’s fantastic," Bahadori said. "I wish you could have seen the look on everyone’s face as the site opened up. It’s a huge relief after an extremely long process.”

There are still a few things to be done, the owner's son-in-law said. The monument sign on the street was approved by the city Monday, and should be posted in a week or two. And the ATM machine, flats of water and propane tanks are still forthcoming.