Afton Developer Alan J. Omar Delivers a Finished Product on Front Royal Road in Strasburg

When Alan J. Omar undertakes a project, he always finishes it.

And when talking to Omar, it is not uncommon to hear the phrase “one hundred percent.” One hundred percent: this is going to happen. It is just a matter of when. Omar is the developer for what has been called the Afton Inn but which he now prefers to call the Afton project, a run-down building with a lot of history at the intersection of Main Street and Royal Avenue in Front Royal, currently not in operation. Omar took full responsibility for the real estate. He purchased it after the Economic Development Authority (EDA) backed out of its arrangement with Capital Gate, the investing company that Omar founded himself. When asked about his vision for Afton, he said the following: “Because of my pragmatic approach to business in general, and especially in the current market environment of high inflation, high-interest rates, and higher material costs, it’s prudent not to rush but rather slow things down temporarily just to be extra cautious and conservative, but my ultimate goal is that the Afton project will be finished one way or another – it’s just a matter of time.”

At the grand opening for the Valero branded gas station he developed and currently owns in Strasburg, Alan J. Omar stands, smiling, behind Strasburg mayor Brandy Hawkins Boies, who is on the left, helping gas station tenants Milan Khaptari (middle) and Nick Manani cut the ribbon. Shenandoah County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Rich Church lends a helping hand from the far right. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

Time is what it took for the Valero-branded gas station that celebrated its grand opening on Friday, March 1, at 9 a.m. on a nippy morning at 328 Front Royal Road in Strasburg. The mayor of Strasburg, Brandy Hawkins Boies, was in attendance to help with the ribbon cutting, and she spoke effusively of how much Omar has met a need on this end of town. This gas station, owned and developed by Omar, is currently the only fuel source in its vicinity and according to him it is the only gas station in Strasburg that offers off-road diesel fuel. This is one more “welcoming space,” Boies said.

Walking through the door, all that a gas station could promise in terms of merchandise is available to the right, run by Leo’s Market, the company name of Omar’s tenant: multiple flavors of coffee, the obligatory wall of sodas and other flavored drinks, chips, and in a refrigerated room at the end, a robust collection of beers. But if one turns to the left, it is immediately apparent that this is more than a convenience store. It is a place where people can meet one another and relax. This is possible on comfortable, black leather chairs in an open space where light enters through floor-to-ceiling windows. Out of these windows, Signal Knob is visible in what feels like proximity. And what one tends to imagine for a gas station in terms of hygiene is gloriously absent, as the owners of Leo’s Market keep every aspect of the facility up to a high standard of cleanliness.

(Above) Alan J. Omar stands in front of a gas station that needs a lot of love. (Below) Alan stands in front of his finished product. Photo Credits: courtesy of Alan J. Omar.

DCIM100GOPROGOPR0914.JPG

This achievement represents four years of labor, delayed by COVID-19 and attended by many obstacles. Because of his approach as a developer, Omar wanted to work with as much of what was left of the Mowery family’s store – dating as far back as 1963 – as he could. Although he was advised to demolish the building and create something new, he managed to preserve the steel beam framework instead and solve the problem from there. A new roof, updated purlins, floor-to-ceiling windows, and blue panels on the exterior that match the blue-colored Valero brand are some of the features of Omar’s finished product.

A clean, open space where visitors can congregate at Omar’s Valero branded gas station in Strasburg.

He could not have succeeded without the help of his architect, Jim Burton of Carter Burton Architecture, and his general contractor, Larry Davis Sr. of Davis Construction and Remodeling based in Front Royal. Burton, an award-winning architect who was invited to exhibit at the Biennale Architectural event in Venice, Italy, is also working with Omar on the Afton project. “He has been recognized globally as one of the top sustainable designers specializing in a regional modern approach,” Omar explained. The approach is very much to work with what is already there.