CHAMPAIGN — The president of Colonial Pantry Ltd. says he hopes to lease the recently closed Colonial Pantry space at Prospect and Springfield avenues in Champaign — perhaps to a fast-food restaurant.

John Miller said the convenience store's last day of business was Oct. 31, with some remaining employees transferring to other stores in the chain. For now, the space is vacant, and Miller said he has no lease arrangements for it.

Miller said the location was excellent in terms of traffic, but tight spacing on the lot made it difficult to pump the number of gallons a month desired.

"It's not an easy place to buy gas," he said, noting that the congested parking lot was the site of a few "fender-benders."

"We decided we'd be better off to close the business, take the gas out and lease it," he said.

The remaining Colonial Pantry stores at Mattis and Bradley avenues in Champaign and in Ogden, Oakwood, Danville, Georgetown, Paxton and Stonington will continue to operate, he said.

The store at Prospect and Springfield had been there since 1993, Miller said. Colonial Pantry's offices are located on the second floor.

In May of this year, Colonial Pantry closed its stores at Fourth and Green streets in Champaign and at University Avenue and State Street in Champaign. New convenience stores have opened in those locations.