NORRIDGEWOCK — After more than three years of planning and construction, plus delays caused by a state bridge project and a retroactive town permitting process, the Bridgeside Market is finally open.

As of today, the town not only has more access to gas, food and drinks, but employment for seven more people.

“We think Norridgewock’s a great town. We want to try to provide a friendly and hospitable convenience store atmosphere for the town and those passing through,” said Chris Kruse, a general partner in Two Bucks Holdings, which developed the market.

The convenience store and gas station next to the new bridge spanning the Kennebec River on U.S. Route 201A may hire more employees in the future, but it has already received more than 100 applications without advertising any job openings, Kruse said.

He hopes to draw as much interest from customers, particularly New Balance workers, people driving to Sugarloaf, truckers and those from the surrounding neighborhood.

In addition to the regular chips, beef jerky, cans of soup, chocolate milk and toiletries, the store at 4 Madison Road offers sandwiches and soup from Kel-Mat Cafe in Skowhegan. It also sells beer and wine, frozen food and has a grab-and-go area with hot dogs, pizza slices and fresh pastries.

Outside, there are two pumps for gas and a pump for on- and off-road diesel sales.

The goal is to be a convenient place for residents to get necessary items without having to travel to Skowhegan, Kruse said.

After Kruse bought the property in 2008, he replaced the former Riverside Market with a new building and expanded the parking area.

His building permit application lists the approximate cost of improvements as $96,000. The land cost $200,000.

It wasn’t until this summer, however, that the town Planning Board realized Kruse and the code enforcement officer had skipped a step in the permitting process.

The code enforcement officer had granted Kruse all the necessary permits for construction, but the board said he should have undergone a site review process. Kruse and his attorney originally argued against the additional regulatory procedure, but later submitted the necessary materials and fee.

The Planning Board unanimously approved the project on Dec. 19, Charlotte Curtis, town clerk and planning board secretary, said.

“It was wonderful. I think we all felt that way. It was good just to get it done,” Curtis said.

Kruse agreed. “The planning board worked with us. We provided what they asked for. They were looking out for the best interests of the town,” he said.

Kruse, who grew up in Jackman and Skowhegan in the 1970s, later moved with his family to Florida to run a hotel. After the family sold the property in 2006, he moved back to Skowhegan in the summer of 2008.

That’s around the time construction started on Norridgewock’s $22 million cement-arch bridge. As the bridge was being built, Kruse said he realized the increase in road elevation, necessary to accommodate the bridge layout, would make it more difficult for people to enter his store parking lot. So he had to fill in his property to meet the height of the new road.

With the hurdles behind him, he said he’s ready to get to work. “Riverside was a really successful business when it was here. We feel it’s a really good corner.”

The store is open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.

Erin Rhoda — 612-2368

erhoda@centralmaine.com