After Friday's slippery snow storm, Fran Fox feels he is steering his Rochester auto sales lot in the right direction.

Fox is revving up a used vehicle dealership called AWD Cars to open in a new auto mall project being developed in part of the former Mill's Fleet Farm building along south U.S. 63.

AWD stands for All-Wheel Drive, which is the only type of late model cars and trucks it will sell.

"I felt like I needed a niche. With all of the snow and ice around here, I always see people sliding around in it," said Fox, before Friday's 4-inch snowfall in Rochester. "It think it is important. I firmly believe Minnesota winters mandate AWD or four-wheel drive."

He plans on having the first vehicles on the lot this week with plans to ramp up the inventory throughout the winter.

AWD is located in the north end of the former Fleet Farm. Tom Hexum of Hexum Cos. is developing that section of the complex into an auto mart to house a variety of vehicle-related businesses.

Fox, who owns Pine Island Auto Glass in Pine Island, plans to have a major online presence for his new business that will include "virtual" test drives on the Web.

He plans on driving vehicles with a camera in the back seat recording while he comments on the vehicle's features.

"We will be Tweeting, blogging, chatting and Facebooking away," he says.

Walgreens in Nov.

Look for the new Walgreens drug store on South Broadway to open in November, not during October as previously expected.

"Work needs to be done to finish up the store and get it Walgreens ready" is how Vivika Vergara of the Deerfield, Ill.-based chain described the delay in an e-mail.

How about the proposed store at 11th Avenue and Civic Center Drive northwest?

"... Still nothing to share right now because we don't have a signed lease," she wrote.

Greenway changes

On Nov. 2, the sign in front of the gas station and convenience store on U.S. 14 in St. Charles will have a new name.

The Greenway Cooperative is taking ownership of the BP Pumphouse. Greenway is changing its location at 1042 Whitewater Ave. to a 24-hour Cardtrol swipe card station from a convenience store station with clerk service.

The staff of four at the current Greenway station will all move to the new U.S.14 location and it will be accepting applications for additional employees.

"This space offers the opportunity for Greenway to increase space both at the pumps and in the store. In addition, Greenway will be able to expand their product selection," says Vanessa Magnus, marketing and communications manager at Greenway.

Biz buzz

• Mayo Clinic is still mulling being in a television series.

An "unscripted" or reality television show focused on Mayo Clinic was proposed by the Turner Broadcasting cable network earlier this year.

Here's what Mayo spokesman Chris Gade had to say about it last week:

"Nothing's changed. No final decisions have been made."

In other words, it is to be continued.

Stay tuned.

Jeff Kiger's Heard on the Street column runs Mondays and Thursdays in the print edition.

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