SAN ANTONIO, Texas --CST Brands Inc., parent company of the Corner Store convenience-store chain, has announced dates and venues for the 2015 Corner Store Country Run, adding two more locations for a 10-city lineup.
This year, the series added venues in Syracuse, N.Y., and Lehigh Valley, Pa., both markets where CST Brands has recently expanded its business with the acquisition of Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes and CrossAmerica Partners.
CST Brands completed its acquisition of CrossAmerica GP LLC, the general partner of Allentown, Pa.-based CrossAmerica Partners, in October 2014.
CrossAmerica Partners distributes fuel to more than 1,100 locations and owns or leases more than 750 sites in 21 states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Maine, Tennessee, Maryland, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and South Dakota. CrossAmerica also distributes fuel in Georgia and North Carolina.
CST and CrossAmerica closed on the acquisition of Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes in November 2014. Based in Canastota, N.Y., Nice N Easy operates 77 corporate and franchise convenience stores in central New York.
The 2015 run is presented by Aquafina and net proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters, the world’s largest donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network, as well as local children’s charities in each market.
In its inaugural year, the 2014 Corner Store Country Run raised a net total of $1 million for Big Brothers Big Sisters in the United States and Canada, as well as local children’s charities in each of the eight race markets.
The schedule:
- Montreal (June 20)
- Denver (July 11)
- Katy, Texas (July 25)
- Syracuse, N.Y. (August 8)
- Lehigh Valley, Pa. (August 22)
- Fort Worth, Texas (September 26)
- Round Rock, Texas (October 11)
- Little Rock, Ark. (October 17)
- Phoenix (October 24)
- San Antonio (November 14).
This year’s 5K will again offer a fun, family-friendly atmosphere, but optional chip timing has been added for competitive runners. Other new features include an option for runners to help raise funds from friends and family for the race beneficiaries. Additional revenues will come from participant registrations, corporate sponsors and Corner Store customers who donate at the register in participating locations.
The Corner Store Country Run 5K features a farm-themed course with hay bales, corn stalks and giant inflatable cows and pigs. Participants dress the part in Western wear, overalls, cowboy hats and farm animal costumes. After the run, folks are invited to stick around for a free country fair with food, live music, free sponsor swag and a beer garden.
In addition, all participants will receive a branded T-shirt, embroidered ball cap, backpack, bandana and blue finisher ribbon. For timed runners, prizes will be awarded to the fastest finishers in several categories.
CST Brands is one of the largest independent retailers of motor fuels and convenience merchandise in North America. Based in San Antonio, it has nearly 1,900 convenience stores throughout the southwestern United States and eastern Canada offering a variety of convenience-store merchandise, beverages, snacks and fresh food. In the United States, CST Corner Stores sell Valero fuels and signature products such as Fresh Choices baked and packaged goods, U Force energy and sport drinks, Cibolo Mountain coffee, FC Soda and Flavors2Go fountain drinks. In Canada, CST is the exclusive retailer of Ultramar branded motor fuels and its Dépanneur du Coin and Corner Store sell signature Transit Café coffee and pastries.
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.