Three stores in Bloomington and one store each in Pontiac, Dwight, Streator, Tremont and Heyworth are among those that will be open 24 hours beginning Tuesday.
Several stores--including one in Dwight--are also in line for remodeling work and upgrades, said the report.
"We are very happy about the news because it means adding [image-nocss] employees and serving our customers better," Dwight store manager Terra Bockelman told the newspaper. "Anytime you can add jobs in this economy, it's very encouraging."
Most stores in the Ankeny, Iowa-based chain are open between 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., said the report. Stores expanding to 24 hours will add an average of eight employees per store. The company owns 1,542 stores in 10 states, including 378 in Illinois.
"People get hungry all hours of the night and with this move, we will be able to better serve our customers," Becky Vieira, store manager of a Casey's in Bloomington, told the paper. "I think this is a very positive sign which benefits our customers and benefits our store."
Stores were selected in part because of past performance, Bockelman said.
"We know that Casey's has done the research and they wouldn't make a move like this unless it was the right time," she said. "There just aren't many places in the smaller towns that are open 24 hours. Casey's management has recognized this and this will provide a place for third-shift workers and others to be able to find what they need."
Casey's CFO Bill Walljasper said studies have shown the stores changing to 24 hours have late-night traffic patterns that will support the move. "Most of them are near factories or have areas where there would be a significant number of customers during the overnight hours," he told the Pantagraph. "We are very encouraged with the progress we have made in these areas and our managers and staff are excited about the new changes as well. We're also glad we can provide some additional jobs in these areas, too."
In January, the company announced plans to develop new stores and remodel existing facilities with made-to-order submarine sandwich shops, multi-flavor coffee bars and indoor customer-seating areas. Specifics have not yet been finalized, the report said.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.