The Robinson’s Marina gas station will reopen next week — and local businesses have welcomed its return.

“As of today, the plans are to reopen the station early next week,” Rubis CEO David Rose told The Royal Gazette yesterday. The gas station at Somerset Bridge (left) abruptly closed its doors in March. Mr Rose could not say why, or who the new dealer of the station would be, because the information remains confidential.

“It’s fantastic,” said Kent Richardson, the owner of Bermuda Water-Skiing and Wakeboard Centre.

“At the moment, I am running the boat to the very last minute and then taking it to Boaz Island to fill it up.”

Mr Richardson, who has been operating out of Robinson’s Marina for 35 years, added: “It’s going to make life so much easier.”

Chris Gauntlett, the owner of Blue Water Divers & Watersports, also welcomed the news that the gas station would reopen.

“We’ve had to go elsewhere to get fuel,” he said. “We look forward to seeing the next management come along.”

Mr Gauntlett added that he was looking forward to a strong summer season for everyone at the marina.

Tony Roache, owner of Somerset Bridge Watersports, said that the reopening would make life easier.

He has also been buying fuel elsewhere and added that the store was particularly convenient for tourists looking to buy snacks.

Captain Sinclair Lambe, who runs his boat Mega Bucks out of Robinson’s Marina, described the gas station as “a lifesaver for everybody”, particularly local fishermen.

The gas station closed on March 5. It had opened as normal but was suddenly shut down at about 3pm.

At that time, Rubis sales manager Jermaine Simons said that they were informed by the dealer on-site, Robinson’s Marina Ltd, that they no longer wished to continue operations at the station.

He said certain contractual obligations prevented him from commenting on the decision, but that Rubis intended to have the station “reopened as quickly as we can”.