"We like to think the new design will free up a lot of that congestion, not only in the store but at the pumps and in the parking lot," Thornbrugh said. The new stores will be 5,400 to 5,500 square feet. The average size of a QuikTrip store in Oklahoma is 4,700 [image-nocss] square feet. Thornbrugh added that the stores will include a separate delivery entrance.
Representatives of the convenience-store chain went before the city's Board of Adjustment yesterday to seek zoning clearance to build one of the new prototypes at 15th Street and Denver Avenue.
"We're going to build a new store behind the existing store," Thornbrugh said. "When the new store is done, we'll tear down the old one."
QuikTrip had planned to tear down its store on Gilcrease Museum Road and unveil its first newly designed store across the street. However, the project was on hold until last week as the company and the state worked to resolve issues regarding ownership of properties that QuikTrip sought to acquire. Thornbrugh said those issues have been resolved.
"It will happen," he told the newspaper. "It's just not happening at the speed we'd like."
QuikTrip has plans to build two other test stores, one at 51st Street and 129th East Avenue and one in Independence, Mo. If the stores succeed, the new design will be used at other sites throughout the nine states where the chain has outlets.
"We're not going to abandon what we are now," Thornbrugh said. "We're just going to offer another wrinkle."
Click hereto read previous reports on QT's new store plan.
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