What going in at the corner of 16th and V Streets in Merced? Here’s what we know

A new gas station and convenience store is slated to take over a Merced lot which previously served as home to Smiley’ gas station for several decades as well as a used car lot.

The 0.69-acre lot at 1480 V Street, sits at the southeast corner of V Street and West 16th Street. City of Merced Planning Commission documents indicate plans call for updates to the site including a new fuel island with six fuel pumps, a parking area with 12 parking stalls and a 3,800-square-foot convenience market.

Documents show the convenience market is planned to be located near the southeast corner of the lot with the fuel island located near the northern portion of the lot. Plans also indicate a request for an alcohol license.

City of Merced Planning Commission documents show that historically, the site has been occupied by three separate businesses including a gas station and convenience market, a used automotive dealership that was approved in 1998 and a food truck which was approved in 2022. Business licensing records indicate the previous gas station and convenience market had been in operation for several decades and did not sell alcohol, planning commission documents show. Demolition work has already begun at the location and the Smiley’s gas station convenience market building has been torn down.

The city of Merced Planning Commission approved the proposed site plan in June of 2023.

Plans submitted for design review proposal indicate a plan for the building’s structure to include three accent towers all more than 20 feet in height, an exterior stucco finish with stone veneer accents, stone veneers and ribbed wall panels as well as an off-white, gray and muted green exterior.

According to City of Merced Associate Planner Francisco Mendoza-Gonzalez, a building permit was approved for the location in Nov. of 2024.

This story was originally published July 18, 2025 at 10:54 AM.