GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. -- It's big news when a major retailer outside the convenience channel decides to add gas pumps and other convenience offers on their real estate. But smaller retailers many of them drug store chains are making headway into the gasoline business as well.
Back in July, CSP Daily News brought you the story of how USA Drug, a 142-store chain based in Pine Bluff, Ark., was adding gasoline pumps at its new prototype stores. Today, CSP brings you the exclusive story of how an even smaller drug chain 85-store retailer Kinney Drug, [image-nocss] based in Gouverneur, N.Y. is quietly breaking into the petroleum retailing business.
We consulted with several suppliers and drew upon their knowledge and experience to develop our plan, Mark Martinchek, director of retail marketing for Kinney, told CSP Daily News.At this point, the most notable surprise is timing construction and installation require much more time and coordination than our typical store-only location.The nature of this project requires that we proceed a little slower than we're accustomed to.
Kinney is scheduled to open its first store with gas in mid-April, with a second to open later in the spring. The stores are in Seneca Falls and Whitesboro, N.Y., and the pumps will carry the proprietary EZ Stop logo. The gasoline is being supplied by Ascent Aviation, Parish, N.Y.
The Seneca Falls site is a 12,000-square-foot store with three gasoline pumps (six fueling areas), including one for diesel. The Whitesboro site also will have three pumps. Gas pump hours will coincide with store hours, with the option to pay at the pump or inside the main store.
Martinchek said the Central New York company has not set a number of stores to which it hopes to add gasoline. We'll determine [that] at a later date after we evaluate the results of these two locations, he said.
The first store the chain attempted to add pumps to was in Moravia, NY. However, the village balked at the plans, noting safety issues. The village's zoning did not allow for gas pumps in the central business district, Martinchek said. We respect their guidelines, and we are pleased to be part of the Moravia community in our traditional format without gas.
Kinney Drug has shown steady growth since first opening in Gouverneur in 1903. Convenient, stand-alone units offer shoppers easy access and parking, along with a wide selection of products and departments, according to the company's Web site. Many of the chain's stores in New York and Vermont include drive-thru window prescription service.
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