After five months of construction the country’s first-ever two-story Cumberland Farms makes its grand debut in Marion ahead of schedule.

The new Cumberland Farms opened at 406 Wareham Road on Tuesday, May 15, a full week earlier than developers had planned said Mickey Higgins, owner of South Coast Development.

“Everything just went well,” Higgins said. “We had planned a Memorial Day open, but we were able to open last week so it all worked out well.”

The Framingham-based chain first approached Marion officials back in 2009 about remodeling the existing Cumberland Farms building.

The developers went through two years of the permitting process with the town’s Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and the Board of Selectmen. The Planning Board approved the site plans in November 2011.

The existing structure was torn down in January. At that time, Scott Schedin, also of South Coast Development, said the second story would be used for storage space instead of retail.

Planning Board member Steve Gonsalves said he was pleased with the new and improved building.

“They did a really great job,” Gonsalves said. “It’s a beautiful building. We have this new attractive corner. It’s the prettiest gas station I’ve ever seen.”

Across the street from the new building is the now-closed Cumberland Farms located at 413 Wareham Road. Darren DeLuca, a spokesman for Cumberland Farms, said this store would remain closed and that there are no immediate plans for the building at this time.