GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. -- Calling it a "store-within-a-store" concept, NOCO Energy Corp. has opened its first Dino-Mart, a new gasoline convenience store franchise, in Grand Island, N.Y.
Open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, the new 3,200-square-foot Dino-Mart features both a Coffee Culture and Grand Island Eatery inside the store. Grand Island Eatery offers fresh sandwiches and other grab-and-go meal items that will be made fresh daily.
There is a dining area inside the store that includes a fireplace, free WiFi and comfortable seating. Dino-Mart is a Valero gasoline retailer, featuring six fuel pumps. The fuel canopy features low-watt LED lighting to reduce energy consumption.
Local business, civic and government leaders gathered Friday to officially open the new store for business during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, as reported in a Raymond James/CSP Daily News Flash on Friday.
Watch the slideshow below for a look at NOCO's Dino-Mart concept.
"We are excited to bring the first Dino-Mart to western New York and on Grand Island, where we believe the store will fill a need for on-the-go customers in an area that really does not have quick and easy access to a gasoline convenience store. On behalf of my partners in this endeavor we are very grateful for all of the community support we received to build our new store," said Chuck Rizzo, who is one of three managing partners of Dino-Mart.
And he told WIVB-TV, "This is the only retail location within miles on this part of the island. So we're hoping that it will serve the community in a positive way and that's what we're trying to do is be a positive influence in the community and do our part to be good citizens and a good members of the community."
Michael F. Newman, executive vice president of NOCO Energy, said, "Chuck Rizzo and his partners have been great to work with throughout this project and we are especially pleased that our first Dino-Mart will open in western New York. Our goal is to grow the Dino-Mart brand throughout our operating area and then across Upstate New York as we continue to expand and enhance our gasoline convenience store model."
He said, "We plan to open a second Dino-Mart in the Rochester metropolitan region in the next couple of weeks."
The Grand Island Dino-Mart, which cost approximately $2 million to build, will employ 20 full-time and part-time employees.
Dino-Marts will be operated by franchisees while NOCO remains the franchisor, said a report by Buffalo Business First.
NOCO is a family-owned and -operated company that provides for the energy needs of residential and commercial customers at home, at work and on the go through a full line of products and services including natural gas, electricity, propane, heating oil, HVAC sales and service, commercial fuels and industrial lubricants. The Tonawanda, N.Y.-based company also operates 33 NOCO Express convenience stores throughout the region.
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