At the Coralville Hy-Vee, you can get gallons of milk, gallons of juice, gallons of water and starting today, gallons of gas.

Mike Stoermer, Coralville Hy-Vee store director, and Ginny Ward, perishables manager, stock shelves Wednesday at the new Coralville Hy-Vee Gas. Press-Citizen/Jason A. Cook

The new gas station and convenience store, situated just south of the Hy-Vee parking lot in the Lantern Park Plaza along Highway 6, begin pumping petrol at 6 a.m. this morning.

The Coralville "Hy-Vee Gas," which is the second in the area and the 42nd in the nation, will match the gas prices with other area providers while providing Hy-Vee shoppers the ability to save at least 12 cents per gallon by using in-store promotions.

"I used the Hy-Vee gas in Waterloo all the time," said Nicole Baldwin, 25, of Coralville. "The price is cheaper, there are a lot more pumps and it's very well lit."

Did you know? • The first “Hy-Vee Gas” opened in West Des Moines four years ago, and the first local station opened outside the Hy-Vee at 1720 Waterfront Drive more than a year ago. • Coralville store director Mike Stoermer said he expects there will be 60 operating by the end of the year and 90 by the end of 2005. Ten employees will run the Coralville station, which will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, including 24-hour pay-at-the-pump services.

The gas station and 1,425-square-foot convenience store provides 16 fuel pumps, four of which are diesel.

Patrons also can buy snacks, beverages, hot food items, lottery tickets or get cash from the ATM. With a receipt, Hy-Vee shoppers can receive a daily gasoline discount, which will always be at least 3 cents per gallon below competitors, officials said. In addition, shoppers can cut more from their gas bill by purchasing three promotional items, which officials said will change daily.

"So if strawberries get a discount, then if you purchase strawberries, you get 3 cents off a gallon of gas," said store director Mike Stoermer, adding that customers can receive the discounts for one week after making a Hy-Vee purchase. "We will have three of those going on every day. You can get up to a 12-cent discount."

The new pumps will compete directly with nearby stations, including Off Campus Conoco, 2001 Fifth St., and Handimart Food Store, 1987 Second St. Officials at both locations declined comment about Hy-Vee's new gas pumps.