Gas America closed its doors permanently Wednesday morning after being in business on Detroit Street in Warsaw for nine years.
Melissa Ditton, who has served as the business's manager for the past seven months, said she has known for three weeks the gas station would close.She said a Gas America area manager visited the business three weeks ago to inform her it would close and be sold.
The gas station, 443 N. Detroit St., was across from KFC and Chinatown Express.
"We were told to close because we were not making enough sales, and it has been too hard for customers to get to our business," Ditton said.
Ditton met with corporate officials at the store Wednesday morning and put caution tape in front of the store and the gas pumps were turned off.
"There were a lot of tears yesterday and it has not been easy to close because it was like my second home," Ditton said.
Ditton, who also served as assistant manager for three years at the business, was at the gas station this morning. She was sweeping the floor and waiting for computers to be taken away from the store.
She said she starts Monday at Gas America, Columbia City, as an assistant manager.
The business had five employees, including Ditton.
"It's horrible that we are closing. It was more than just a job, it was a good company to work for," said Wendy Marrufo, who has been an employee at the gas station since May.
Jodi Phillips, who has been employed at the gas station for a year, said she will miss the customers most.
"It's sad we had to close because I enjoyed meeting customers," Phillips said.
She said she will go to school full-time now that the gas station has closed.
Janet Gaddis, who was employed there for three to four months, said she was disappointed the gas station closed.
"It was upsetting to hear of the store closing, but I will be transferred to the Columbia City Gas America," Gaddis said.
