The Beckley, W.Va.-based company opened its latest c-store in October 5 in Bradshaw, W.Va. It purchased Burger King operations in Beckley, Oak Hill, Princeton, Bluefield, W.Va., and Bluefield, Va., effective November 1, said the report.
President Greg Darby said the company plans to build c-stores in Pineville and Elkins, W.Va., next year. He [image-nocss] said it is also considering growing northward and also moving more into Virginia.
Little General currently employs more than 1,200 people. Darby said supporting Little General's operations helps keeps money in West Virginia, where it can be reinvested to remodel, build and open new stores in the area.
"We also support the local economy and the school systems and charities and all of those things," Darby told the newspaper. "We do have a lot of community support, and we support little leagues and school systems and everything out there, really. We try to support anything local in the communities we operate in."
When purchased by then-employees Darby and Cory Beasley in 1999, the chain had fewer than 40 stores, the report said. Now, it has expanded to include 75 c-stores, seven Burger Kings, 29 Subways, five Arby's, 17 Godfathers Pizzas, four Taco Bells and two Steak Escapes.
With so much growth in an economy in which many businesses have had trouble surviving, Darby said he may have a few explanations for success with Little General. "I think it's because we're local, and we thrive on giving good customer service," he told the paper.
Part of the appeal, Darby said, is in the convenience of combining the stores and restaurants in an attempt to be "everything to everybody." He said the combination of different types of stores provides a time saver for people on the move. "Especially in rural markets or along interstates where people are traveling, they have less time and want to make one stop instead of five stops," he added. "It's been a big part of our growth and our success."
The company also just announced the availability of the 2011 Little General Scholarship Application.
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