OAK BROOK, Ill. -- "Open & Shut" is CSP Daily News' occasional roundup of some of the many new-store openings, reopenings, groundbreakings, raze and rebuilds, rebrandings, closures and sales taking place around the country by chains small, medium and large that have not otherwise been reported.
Especially on the independent operator level, this recurring feature provides a snapshot of the frequently changing retail marketplace that includes such outlets as convenience stores, gas stations, truckstops, travel centers and related locations.
Alabama
The former Merle's Truck Stop near Montgomery, closed for two years, reopened in September, said The Montgomery Adviser. The facility, now called Maverick's Truck Stop, is under the new ownership of Joe Garner hopes, who is making extensive improvements made to make the roadway in front of the business safer. The previous incarnation was considered a traffic hazard. The most significant changes are the lighting added along the highway and the new fixed routes for truck drivers entering and leaving the truckstop. Previously, truck drivers would do U-turns on a whim, Garner said. He said he has spent about $5.5 million on the project, and about $300,000 of that was because of a delay that kept him from opening last year.
Arizona
Indy Car Wash and lube shop in Mesa added gasoline in mid-October, it said on Twitter.
Circle K Stores of Tempe purchased 3.2 acres of vacant land in Marana from a private seller for $2.15 million in early November, said The Arizona Daily Star, citing the CoStar Group. The property surrounds an existing Circle K building. Using the new land, Circle K plans to build a new 4,500 to 5,000-sq.-ft. c-store with 12 to 14 gas pumps. The new site will be an upgrade over the existing site, which currently features a 2,800-sq.-ft. building with two gasoline pumps.
California
A Chevron station under construction in San Luis Obispo is slated to open in January, said The San Luis Obispo Tribune. The station will feature a 2,112-sq.-ft., 24-hour c-store with 11 parking spots and existing gasoline bays plus four new diesel pumps. The previous station closed in October 2008. Rob Tachovsky, who owns two Chevron stations in Paso Robles and one in Pismo Beach, has partnered with Ricky Fleischer to form Mission Station Inc. to operate the station. The firm has a 34-year lease on the property and has budgeted $1.4 million for reconstruction and site improvements. The new station will employ nine or 10 people. The c-store does not have a license to sell beer and wine, but the owners hope to have one by the time the store opens.
A San Jose Shell station closed earlier this month, said The South Winchester News. Ramin Kouchesfahani, operator of Winchester Gas & Quality Auto, is uncertain of the future of the station. "There are few contract issues with Shell that are being worked out. I am sure it will emerge as a gas station again, but under what name no one knows at the moment," he told the paper.
In late October, the La Jolla Chevron service station became an Extra Mile c-store, said The La Jolla Light. It now offers "high-end coffees and hot and cold specialty foods, lottery tickets, beer and wine," said owner Chris Medeiros. "It's...a brand new building, a remodel, with more things available." He said the remodel [does not] involve increasing the square footage of the building, but gutting it and making it over, keeping the back walls intact. The location closed for several days, but opened a temporary kiosk. The entire remodel is expected to take about three or four months.
Florida
Jim's Food Market in Clearwater held a gala official opening in mid-October, said The Clearwater Times. Meanwhile, a cake was cut and celebrations were held in Little Fort to mark the 90th anniversary of the newly renamed Jim's Food Market there.
In early October, the Ross Realty Group Inc. opened a new 2,980-sq.-ft. 7-Eleven store in Madeira Beach, said The Tampa Bay Beach Beacon. The 7-Eleven replaced a former Hess station that relocated further south on the beach. The long-term lease for 7-Eleven is expected to ensure stability to the tenant mix. John Stoner, CCIM of Ross Realty, represented the building owner Madeira Commons Inc. in this transaction.
The only gas station On Jekyll Island, which is about 40 years old, closed in early October after the fuel ran out, reported The Florida Times-Union. The building will be torn down, the underground tanks replaced and a new convenience store built in its place that will be operated privately. Until then, Jekyll residents will have to drive to stations at Exit 29 off Interstate 95 or north on U.S. 17 to a store at the end of the St. Simons Causeway. Both are about 12 miles away. The Jekyll Island Authority, which governs the state-owned island, has not said when the new store will be open.
Georgia
Two Camden County truckstops, Cisco Travel Plazas, and a gas station, Cisco Express, closed since January, will be auctioned December 1, reported The Times-Union. The three businesses, subject to a federal indictment, a federal class-action lawsuit and a state racketeering complaint, were originally owned by Fairley Cisco. Michael Nicholson, who bought the businesses from Tennessee Commerce Bank, decided to sell the three commercial properties by auction. David Keating, director of the Camden County Joint Development Authority, said a partial court settlement to resolve the ownership led to the decision to sell the stations. Under the settlement, Tennessee Commerce Bank had been awarded the properties as the holder of the first lien. Local officials want the once-popular businesses reopened to enhance county tax revenue.
A Phillips 66 station in front of a Lowes store in Valdosta has closed, said The Valdosta Daily Times.
Illinois
Charley's Grilled Subs and Phillips 66 c-store and gas station in Knoxville reopened in early November after a fire in March, reported The Register-Mail.
A Mobil gas station and c-store began construction in early November on the east side of DeKalb, on the site of a former Marathon station, said The Daily Chronicle. It is expected to open sometime in the next two to three months, owner Jamal Chaudhary said. The Marathon closed in 2005, and the site has been dormant since then. Chaudhary said he owns several other similar stations in Illinois. "I felt this was a good location to build something," he said. The new station is the second to open on the city's east side in the past year. A Shell station opened on a vacant lot late last year.
Indiana
A Scott's grocery store in Fort Wayne has opened a gas station, said Indiana's NewsCenter. In turn, Kroger, which bought the chain, has closed its nearby Fuel Center. Kroger plans to open 10 gas stations in the Fort Wayne area over the next three years, it said. Kroger's Indianapolis-based spokesperson John Elliott told The News Sentinel that the location is the first with the Scott's name in the city. Diesel will be available. Other merchandise, such as motor oil, fluids and wiper blades, will be offered, as well as bundled firewood, propane exchange, a soft-drink dispenser, tobacco and candy. Cincinnati-based Kroger purchased Scott's stores in 2007 and is in the midst of a $75-million reorganization in Fort Wayne.
Kansas
In early October, the Decker family opened Deckers' General Store in Bronson, a gas station and c-store that previously operated as Bronson Gas 'N' Stuff for about 10 years, said The Fort Scott Tribune. Jean Decker, the co-owner of the store, said she and her family decided to purchase and operate the business because it is needed in the town. "The community has been very supportive of us," she said. "People here really want gas." Besides fuel, which will soon be available for purchase, the store also offers customers a variety of grocery items and tables for dining. The portion of the business that operates as an eatery will feature frequent lunch specials, Decker said. About six people are involved in running the family-operated business. The owners have not hired any employees yet, but plan to do so in the future, Decker said.
Kentucky
Clark's Pump-N-Shop opened two locations in August: Burnaugh BP and Shopes Creek Marathon in Ashland.
Maine
Rockland-based Maritime Energy's Townline store was renovated in late September. The new Maritime Farms store will cover 4,792 sq.-ft. and will include a deli, c-store and a beverage barn featuring a large selection of beer and wine. The old store was closed.
Massachusetts
A Route 97 landmark in Topsfield was back on the real estate market in mid-October, reported WickedLocalMiddleton.com. The asking price for the Shell station and garage was $695,000, a significant drop from the original asking price of $975,000. It was first placed on the market more than 190 days ago. The station was last assessed for $558,400 and includes more than 2.6 acres of land. It was built in 1971 and has four regular gasoline pumps and a separate diesel pump. Included in the listing was office and retail space, three service garages and three entrances. Silva Tire Depot is located at the station. The station and tire dealership remain open for business.
McBrien's Diagnostic & Repair, which has provided North Scituate residents with full-service gasoline for the past 12 years, has closed, said the GateHouse News Service. Owner Tom McBrien cited contractual difficulties. He originally he had a 10-day grace period to pay for his gasoline shipments. That period then shrunk to seven days, and then to five days. He was forced to sell all of his fuel within that tight period, but he couldn't just order a smaller volume of fuel or get hit with a fee. "We couldn't handle that volume in five days," he said. "We sell about 35,000 to 40,000 gallons of gas a month. It was just perfect when we had 10 days to sell it all." Alliance Energy, McBrien's gasoline supplier, could not be reached for comment. "It's not like they were the bad guys, either," said McBrien. "They had their deadlines to get things sold, too. It just trickled down through the system." While the pumps could eventually reopen, McBrien said he would have to re-negotiate the contracts. To continue selling fuel, he also would need to replace his tanks. "In 2017, the state is going to require all single-wall steel tanks to be removed,"he said. "That would be a $100,000 to $125,000 investment. The end was written on the wall." McBrien has chosen to focus on the repair side of his business.
Michigan
McGregor Oil Co., St.Ignace, has sold two Shell stations, one in St. Ignace and one in Sault Ste. Marie, to EZ Mart owner Blarney Castle Oil & Propane, Bear Lake, reported the The St. Ignace News.
Spartan Stores said in late September that it purchased a Meijer c-store in Grand Rapids. It converted the store into a Family Fare Quick Stop, said WOOD-TV.
Missouri
After being retired for 10 years, Paul Butler opened a c-store in Springfield in mid-October reported The News-Leader.
Renovations to he Main Stop c-store in Neosho began in mid-October, said The Neosho Daily News. Owner Antonio Jaime purchased the store three years ago. The number of customers grew, and he expanded the store to accommodate them. "We put in new windows, new doors, new ceiling, new walls, new electrical," he said, "Basically it's going to be a brand new building." The building sports a fresh facade in tan stucco and brick in place of the stone. He added 1,000 sq.-ft. to the north and east of the building to house the new beverage coolers and a handicapped accessible bathroom. "Nobody has done anything to this store in maybe 15 to 20 years," he said. He said the renovation will give him more room for inventory and a little room for seating. The old coolers on the west side will be removed, and the area will be used for storage.
Nebraska
A newly remodeled Brady Get 'N Go opened three weeks ago in North Platte under new ownership, reported The North Platte Bulletin. The Get 'N Go had been closed for a year, but a former truck driver and his wife decided to buy it. The community needs it, owner Jack Mann said. Mann, 53, drove over the road for several years but wants to spend more time with family. He and wife Pamela, plus a sister and brother-in-law, are the core of the workforce. The Get 'N Go sells gasoline, groceries, refreshments and a full line of convenience items. It features homegrown potatoes and produce and locally produced dessert toppings and gift items. A garage and quick-lube opened last week in the adjoining building. The couple put four clocks above the front doorone for each time zone in the continental U.S. The locations of their grandkids are noted there too.
The new Shoemaker's Truck Station owned by Karen and Dave Shoemaker, had its soft opening last week, said The Lincoln Journal Star. The c-store and trucker facilities are open, but it will be a few more weeks before the Shoemaker's restaurant opens. It will also be a few more weeks before the truck service begins. The location features a mural depicting the history of U.S 6. The $8 million, 29,000-sq.-ft. truckstop was built from the ground up in about five months. Shoemaker's, which had been across the street, had to close at the end of June when Don Shoemaker, Dave's uncle, did not renew the 25-year-old lease for the truckstop. Don and son Randy own the land and buildings there. The two sides of the Shoemaker family battled in court over the name of the business and whether Dave Shoemaker could remove fixtures from the existing restaurant. Don and Randy Shoemaker have since reopened the existing truckstop and restaurant and renamed it Don and Randy Shoemaker's Truck Station.
Nevada
Two Winners Corner locations in Yerington are under new ownership after they were sold earlier this month by Terrible Herbst Inc., reported Reno Gazette-Journal. The new owners are brothers A.J. and Deep Virk. Deep also owns two Chevron stations in Reno, but this is A.J.'s first venture into the c-store business. "I'm a rookie at this," he said.
New Hampshire
The Farmington Downtown & Business Committee recently welcomed owner Summer Edwards' Summer's Market & Convenience Store to Farmington. The store offers deli, sandwiches, soups, burgers, breakfast, coffee, groceries and more, said Foster's Daily Democrat.
New Jersey
A 7-Eleven recently opened in Old Bridge, reported The Suburban.
Stow Creek Deli has undergone a complete transformation under new management, said The South Jersey News. Juan and Augastina Perez have turned the deli into a Mexican/American deli/c-store. They already had their own catering business in a truck, but wanted more. "We want to have a mini mart," Juan said. They plan to sell milk, eggs and deli meats and cheeses and more, but also a large variety of hot and cold Mexican food: Burritos, tostadas, chalupas, tamales, quesadillas and memelitas, as well as fruit salads and fruit drinks. Also in the works are fried chicken, Mexican hot wings and chipotle barbecue, as well as breakfast sandwiches and pancakes.
New York
The D&L c-store in DeKalb Junction closed in early November, said The Watertown Daily Times, leaving many residents at least 10 miles from the nearest gasoline pump or six-pack. The location has been a store of one form or another since the 1920s.
The Seneca Nation of Indians continues to expand its business properties. Officials broke ground earlier this month near Cuba at an area known as Oil Springs Territory for a new $2.5 million One Stop gas station and c-store, said WIVB-TV. The Salamanca Press reports that the business is expected to generate 25 jobs and open for business by next Memorial Day.
Citing a drop in business, Wilson Farms Inc. closed one of its Amherst leased locations, reported Business First of Buffalo. The store closed in late October. "The current facility is no longer favorable to sustaining a financially sound operation based on our current business model," said Paul Nanula, Wilson Farms president and CEO. He said Wilson Farms has four other stores located within three miles. Employees were offered jobs at other stores. Nanula said Buffalo-based Wilson Farms is still eyeing new store locations and has plans to invest between $15 million and $20 million during the next five years in store improvements.
Tennessee
A Farragut business owner closed the doors of his car wash/gas station/c-store in October, leaving behind an almost $1,000 tab, reported The Farragut Press. Calibur Car Wash, at the center of controversy regarding stormwater ordinance violations, was levied $950 in civil penalties in August. A sign posted on the business's gasoline pumps stated: "Due to updating gas equipment, we cannot sell gas at this time. Sorry for any inconvenience. Thank You MGT." The furniture and equipment from inside the c-store has been removed, as has all signage. Owner Mike Thomas said, "I've cleared up a dump right in the center of Farragut. I spent a substantial amount of money on a sore spot," Thomas told Farragut's Board of Mayor & Aldermen in August. "People come inand make a city dump out of it, and I get crucified for cleaning it up." He also said he might pursue legal action.
Texas
Commuters in the Stockdale area have another venue to buy fuel or just to pick up something to eat. The former Chevron store in the Stockdale area opened for business again in late September, said The Wilson County News. It is operating as the Brahma Bullpen. Owner Donald Bennett has nine years of experience managing another c-store. He decided to venture out on his own to reopen the Chevron station. The store features a deli, offering hamburgers and sandwiches, as well as breakfast tacos made with fresh homemade tortillas and salsa.
Washington
A gas station and garage will reopen this month under new ownership after being vacant for more than a year. A Port Angeles Shell station reopened this week with full service at the pumps and a fully operational garage, its new owner, Paul Lewis, told The Peninsula Daily News. Lewis, who also owns Quality Builders in Sequim, said he intends the station to be like the one he worked at as a teenager, with employees filling the tanks and checking tire pressure and oil. "It's just an extra service," he said. "I'll try not to charge extra for it."
Vandervert Construction Inc., Spokane, won a contract to build a $1 million gas station in Spokane for Fred Meyer Stores, and started work on the project site in late September near the Portland, Ore.-based retail chain's outlet in the East Central neighborhood, said The Spokane Journal of Business.
Tribal members opened the first Tulalip-owned gas station in mid-October, reported The Daily Herald. The station was on the wish list of many tribal members for years, said Teresa Meece, events manager at Quil Ceda Village. The tribes finally came up with the funds this year and went ahead with the project. The tribe expects to save money by fueling their own fleet. Almost 100 vehicles are used for tribal business, including police cars, garbage trucks and maintenance vehicles. Tribal members also will receive a 20-cent discount per gallon at the new station, she said. The Tulalip Tribes Chevron is equipped with eight pumps, 16 dispensers and a payment kiosk. Additional pumps are in the works, and a 1,000-sq.-ft. c-store is expected to be open by the end of 2010. A car wash also may be built later. Five tribal members are working at the station. By the time the project is complete, the station is expected employ more than 30, including part-time employees.
West Virginia
Beckley-based Little General opened a new c-store in Fayetteville in early October, it said on Twitter.
Wisconsin
Kwik Trip Inc. opened a new c-store in Elkhorn on October 22, the La Crosse-based retailer said on Twitter.
Please send your store openings and related announcements to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@cspnet.com.
Also follow CSP Daily News on Twitter at www.twitter.com/glcspdn(Greg Lindenberg)and www.twitter.com/CSPreports(Steve Holtz).
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