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.
Please [image-nocss] send your store openings and related announcements to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@cspnet.com,www.twitter.com/glcspdn or www.facebook.com/glcspdn.
Arizona
There were two Circle K grand openings in Phoenix on August 27, Circle K Arizona said on Facebook.
California
A 7-Eleven opened in Huntington Beach on July 11, 7ElevenSoCal said on Twitter.
The new Chevron gasoline pumps are now operational at the Eastport Market in Canyon Hills, reported The Friday Flyer. The owners Hanni and Abed Taha.
A new 2,254-sq.-ft. gas station being built in Carson features eight fueling stations, an automated car wash and a c-store operating 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, Sheri Repp-Loadsman, Carson's planning director, told The Daily Breeze.
A new Love's Travel Center & Country Stores location including a McDonald's and Subway opened for business August 19, reported The Tehachapi News. The opening was delayed when Love's was obliged to re-do road surfacing. A wet winter and spring also delayed opening.
After 42 years, Commuters Shell Service in Palo Alto has shut down for good, said KGO-TV. Owners said they were forced to close because they could not afford to stay. Shell decided to pull out of the partnership, revenue was down and paying for the lease was just too much for the aging owners.
Colorado
A Conoco station in Fort Morgan began pumping gasoline on July 22, but the Phillips 66 across the street, the Shell nearby and the South Sherman Street station will not have fuel, said The Fort Morgan Times. Narayan Shrestha owns the Conoco, the Phillips 66 and the Sherman station, and used to supply the Shell with fuel. The Phillips 66 is closed and will remain closed. It was not making money, and was competing with the Conoco. The South Sheman c-store will remain open and is doing well, but it makes few gasoline sales, Shrestha said. It makes so few sales that it does not make business sense to invest the money it takes to fill the tanks. He does not own the Shell, and its owner has told him it will close.
A new Kum & Go store opened in Gypsum on August 13, the company said on Twitter.
Connecticut
A new gas station recently opened in Torrington. Johnson's offers drinks and snacks as well, assistant manager Oliver Johnson told Good News About Torrington. Johnson said the station opened over the Fourth of July weekend.
Florida
Grubb & Ellis Commercial Florida recently completed a new 10-year lease agreement for 2,800 square feet of retail space in Orlando, said The Orland Sentinel. The new tenant is 55 West Convenience Store LLC, also known as 7-Eleven. He expected it to open this year.
Illinois
Two new Thorntons c-stores will open in September, one in Wood Dale and one in Lakemoor, Thorntons Inc. said on its website.
A BP c-store in Chatham reopened in mid-July, reported The State Journal-Register.
New owner Shamsher Singh said his family also is remodeling a former CITGO station in Springfield. Singh said he has not yet decided what brand of gasoline to carry, but it will not be BP.
An old Pizza Hut location in Rockford is now the City Market c-store, said WREX-TV.
Construction is underway for a new BP station and c-store in Oregon, Ill., The Ogle County News said. The new station replaces the Marathon station demolished in June. City building inspector Casper Manheim said the new station will have two pump islands with three pumps at each island. He said plans call for an E85 pump as well as a diesel pump. Mike Gill is the owner of the new station, as well as the CITGO located directly across the road.
Indiana
After sitting vacant for 13 years, the lot of an old Phillips 66 station is undergoing transformation into a gas station and c-store in West Lafayette, said The Journal & Courier. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in late July for the future Quick Pantry and Marathon. Construction is expected to last 14 to 18 weeks.
Iowa
The Fort Madison Kum & Go closed August 29, reported The Fort Madison Daily Democrat. Leisha Barcus, interim director of communications for Kum & Go, said the store was not doing the volume the company would like and that it was a challenge to managers The are has experienced a lot of flooding. The store was closed much of the summer in 2008 and there have been a few other times when flood waters have hit the area and damaged business. Barcus said that was not a reason.
Doug and Kristie Davidson purchased the Orient Express, located in Orient, from Richard Thompson on May 1 and have been updating the store and station, The Creston News Advertiser said in early August. They have doubled the store's inventory, established an inside-eating area, added fountain soda with both Pepsi and Coke, put in a new security system and floor and paint. They have also debuted pizza slices. In the next month, Davidson said he hopes to serve noon lunches. Plans call for a car wash and exterior paint and reshingling.
Kentucky
A new Clark's Pump-N-Shop opened in Westwood on July 22, the company said on Twitter.
A Quick Pick Food Mart has opened in Louisville in early August, said LouisvilleMojo.com. The store will offer beer.
Maine
Flynn's Oil Co. has sold the car wash part of its business in Exeter, said Seacoastonline.com. The name will change to Exeter One Stop and will feature gasoline and a small c-store. It was purchased June 29 by Charles Mabardy for $950,000. Mabardy is president of Mabardy Oil Inc., a gasoline and diesel supplier, and owner/operator of other One Stop Sunoco sites. A deal with the state attorney general's office provided a formula for repayment of more than 300 customers who did not receive $554,603 in prepaid oil. The money to pay back customers will come from the sale of Flynn's to Hilton Family Oil Inc., Lawrence, Mass. In addition to the repayment deal, Flynn's owner Michael Flynn entered a guilty plea for the company to a felony criminal charge of violating the consumer protection law. The $100,000 fine will be suspended if the $554,603 is repaid.
After 32 years, Ed and Miriam Perry are trying to sell their Stockton Springs gas station and c-store, said The Republican Journal. They quietly put the business on the market last year. Ed Perry's poor health has made it too difficult to continue. Ed Perry is the public face of the store, but he is quick to credit Miriam, his wife of 58 years, who has largely worked behind the scenes, handling the bookkeeping for the store. Ed calls her the "backbone" of the business.
Maryland
A site in Cumberland that was formerly occupied by RG's c-store will be converted into a 7-Eleven, The Cumberland Times-News reported in early August. The site will be owned by Todd Umstott, who also owns 7-Eleven franchise locations in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. He exstimated that the store may be open by September. He added that he is also purchasing the RG's location inKeyser, W.Va., and remodeling it into an independent c-store.
A new Wawa store opened August 27 in Elkton, the company said on Twitter.
Massachusetts
Scott Munroe closed his White Hen c-store franchise in Newburyport about three months ago despite a "Save the White Hen" campaign, said The Daily News of Newburyport. In June, the Munroes began the renovations to their new independently owned c-store, named The Black Duck Market & Deli. It opened August 17. It will offer canned foods, chips, pastries, produce, beverages, deli meats and cheeses, Robin Munroe said. They hope to add panini sandwiches to the menu and will continue to respond to customers' requests.
Gulf Oil celebrated the grand opening of a store in Saugus on July 13, it said on Facebook.
F.L. Roberts Sunoco in West Springfield closed in late August. The lease on the land was up and a CVS will be built in its place, said WWLP-TV. F.L. Roberts' president and CEO Steve Roberts said that all the employees have been transferred to other stations. The company owns dozens of stations in western Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Michigan
The pumps were turned on at a new Marathon station in Bay City on August 17, according to Zahur "Andy" Khokhar, owner of the station and c-store. "Everything is new in this building from A to Z," he told The Bay City Times. Khokhar moved to Bangor Township from Florida to pursue ownership of the business. He said his brother, Javed Cheema, operates the BP station in Bay City. The store will cash checks and serve as a post office. The 2,200-square-foot building features a 10-door cooler and an island counter where hot food, such as pizza, hot dogs and other machines for hot drinks will be available.
Minnesota
After purchasing the former Heisler's Country Store at the end of last year, Chad Canton opened West Central One Stop on July 24 after putting in place several upgrades including new equipment, The Frazee-Vergas Forum. The c-store portion of the operation will be well stocked and the cafe will have expanded offerings. It will offer pop, milk, beer, ice cream and food staples. A variety of live fishing bait and tackle will be available along with hunting and fishing licenses. It includes a laundromat, car wash, repair bays and gasoline and diesel pumps.
RJM Construction is building the 19,000-sq.-ft. Bobby & Steve's Auto World in Eden Prairie, said Finance & Commerce. The project started in early July. When construction wraps up in late 2010 or early 2011, the new building will be the largest of eight Bobby & Steve's stores and will function as the chain's flagship station. The store will offer auto repair and 24-hour towing and will include BP gasoline, a car wash, seven service bays, a c-store, foodservice with an outdoor dining plaza on the second floor. Plans also call for a car museum. One of the partners in Bobby & Steve's has "a very extensive car collection" that he wants to show the public.
The groundbreaking for the Red Lake Reservation Convenience Store near Seven Clans Casino at Red Lake took place on July 26, said Indian Country Today. The event began with a prayer conducted by Hereditary Chief Sam Smith and the offering of asemaa (tobacco) by all. It was attended by tribal council members, hereditary chiefs, Red Lake Gaming employees, architects and others involved in the planning and building of the store, which is part of a retail center. The retail center will be a full-service store with groceries, gas station, hot food, car wash and arts and crafts. Red Lake Foods will have items for sale at the retail center including wild rice, famous Red Lake walleye (fresh and frozen), wild berry jams, maple syrup and birch bark crafts. The 8,600-sq.ft. store will be doing cross promotions with the casino, hotel and events center.
Brophy Bay Mart in Alexandria re-opened on Memorial Day weekend under new ownership, reported Alexandria Echo Press.
Missouri
The St. Robert BP on Route 66 changed to the Eagle Stop, selling ConocoPhillips 66 gasoline, said The Waynesville Daily Guide. Ruth Ann Dobson, area manager, said the former owner had been looking to sell for a long time. Dobson said although business at the station has picked up since the brand switch, it is not doing as well as it should. The station was struck by lightning, causing the gasoline pumps to go out. Dobson said she expects business to pick up further once a remodel is done inside, scheduled for September.
Montana
New owners Marvin and Debbie Monroe recently bought the Conoco High Country Travel Plaza in Helena, closed fro about two years, and plan to open Monroe's High Country Travel Plaza in September, said The Independent Record. They envision a section of "Made in Montana" products. They are interviewing local restaurant owners about leasing a 24-hour eatery in the building in what was previously the Phoenix Cafe. And a casino in the building, the Lucky Duck, never closed. The property also includes a Trailways bus terminal, which the Monroes hope to rent out, and an old warehouse that is being renovated.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Business Sales announced in early July the sale of Z-Mart Convenience Store in Newmarket to Jay Ucar and Dolly Moser, said Foster's Daily Democrat. The new owners will be developing a full line of fresh made luncheon and deli products and will offer low-cost, unbranded fuel. They also plan to offer specialty food items that reflect their Turkish heritage. The seller, Toufic Farhat, was represented by New Hampshire Business Sales associate broker Ed Settino. The buyers were represented by Arthur Pappas of Prudential Verani Realty.
New Jersey
A new 7-Eleven store, which opened its doors May 17, celebrated its arrival in Maplewood with a grand opening on July 17, reported The Maplewood Patch The store is on a vacant gas station lot. In attendance at the festivities were several hundred local residents, Mayor Vic DeLuca and Committeeman Jerry Ryan. During the three-hour opening, there were raffle giveaways, clowns and a ribbon and cake cutting. The new store is owned by franchisees Malav Munshi and Nisha Patel.
Wawa opened a new store in Tinton Falls on August 20, it said on Twitter. It features the company's new store design prototype, including 4,600 square feet of retail space and additional gasoline facility. Alease Crespo is the general manager of the store.
New York
A gas station in Commack has been leased to Hess, said The Commack Patch. Bob and Louis Dispenza own the property with their mother and brother. The family has owned the location since Dispenza's father opened a gas station in 1955. The location has been vacant for the past two years, and will be re-opened soon. Hess communications director Lorrie Hecker said a construction timeline has not been determined. She added the location will be converted into a Hess Express with gasoline pumps and a c-store.
A 7-Eleven store is opening in Greenpoint, said Racked NY.com in mid-June.
Work began recently on a new Stewart's Shop in Fonda. It will be constructed directly behind the existing location. When finished at the end of September, the shop will be nearly 3,000 square feet and will have more than a dozen parking spaces. The new shop will also include six gasoline pumps featuring pay at the pump service. Work on the gas island will be completed at the end of October. The company is also replacing the gasoline dispensers and remodeling the store in Feura Bush.
A 7-Eleven store in Montauk opened on August 31, said 27East.com. The store will keep the 7-Eleven name, although East Hampton Town officials had said the chain might adopt a different name for the Montauk location to help preserve the character of the local community. A company spokesperson said the owners will work with the East Hampton Town Design Review Board to design a sign that is suitable to the community.
Brownstoner reported in August that a 7-Eleven store is opening in Brooklyn Heights.
North Carolina
A Murphy USA location opened in late July in Jacksonville, the company said on Twitter.
The Cameron family, shareholders in Gas Center Inc., recently reopened a Gas Center location in Wrightsville Beach as Causeway Market, Lumina News said. The structure, which Rob Cameron estimated was built in the late 70s or early 80s, was formerly a BP c-store The logistics of the small-scale lot prompted his family's decision to remove the gasoline last year, deciding not to upgrade from mechanical to new dispensers because it would also have required putting in new tanks. The owners began a soft closing in early November 2009 for the down season. The site reopened with its inventory geared toward beachgoers instead of motorists. The store still offers food and beverages.
A new Byrne Dairy has officially opened in Pulaski in early August, reported The Oswego County Business. The new store is complete with a gas station, ice cream shop, deli and groceries.
Ohio
The McDonald's restaurant at the BP station in Elyria will soon be just a McDonald's, said The Morning Journal. Construction could start as soon as October. McDonald's Corp. paid $950,000 to acquire nearly 10 parcels owned by BP Explorations & Oil Inc. The station has shut down, but the restaurant is still in operation. Construction costs are $553,000 and will include tearing down the station's former car wash and canopy, along with construction of an entirely new building.
Oklahoma
Real-estate investment trust Broadstone Net Lease Inc. completed the acquisition of a triple net-leased property. On July 10, 2010, BNL purchased a Kum & Go c-store in Stillwater. The deal was a sale-and-leaseback transaction; the initial lease term is for 20 years and the acquisition price was $2.1 million.
A McDonald's and EZ GO gas station and c-store on the Muskogee Turnpike in Wagoner County will be demolished and replaced by a larger single building, scheduled for completion in January, said The Muskogee Phoenix. McDonald's and EZ GO will share the $4 million cost of the 15,000-sq.-ft. new building that will house both businesses. EZ GO manager Alicia Dozier and almost all of her employees will be staying with the company during the transition.
Oregon
Canyon City-based Jackson Oil Inc., a heating oil, lubricants and cardlock business with two c-stores, has changed hands, according to a report by MyEagleNews.com. The sale to Ed Staub & Sons Inc., Tulelake, Calif., was effective August 1, but retiring owner Greg Jackson is staying on to help operate the company in a transition period of up to one year.
Pennsylvania
A gas station has returned to Mercersburg after a year-and-a-half absence, said Public Opinion Online. Brent and Jody Smith recently reopened B&J Liberty. They initially bought the business in 1999 and ran a gas station and two-bay garage on the small corner lot until 2008, when they moved their auto repair and tire business to a new, larger facility. The store carries beverages, bread and milk, snacks, tobacco products, as well as food from local vendors, including subs and salads from Romeo's Pizza, baked goods from Tea Time Tasties and candies and soups from another local vendor. The business has eight gasoline dispensers and one diesel fuel dispenser. The store reopened August 3.
Royal Farms is beginning work on its new Hanover store, which should be open by next spring, a company official told The Evening Sun.
A former Wawa c-store in Lancaster reopened August 19 as Lancaster Gas & Food, said The Lancaster New Era. It is open 24 hours daily. It sells Dietz & Watson meats, sandwiches and wraps; hot dogs and sausages; Turkey Hill products; New England-brand coffee; fountain sodas; and fresh soups, salads and doughnuts, as well as lottery tickets.
Tennessee
A Mapco station in Menphis has sold for $700,000, said The Memphis Daily News said in mid-August. Roopani Properties LLC bought the property from Mapco Express Inc. The sale was financed with a $600,000 loan through Brighton Bank. The station includes a 2,368-sq.-ft. c-store built in 1988. Mapco Petroleum bought the property in 1988 for about $326,000.
The Travel Centers of America truckstop in Nashville will be rebuilt and reopened by the end of the year, after being substantially damaged by the May flooding, the parent company said, according to a report in early August by The Tennessean.Also, a CITGO c-store a block west of the truckstop was demolished and its site cleared because of flooding.
Texas
A new Stripes c-store opened in San Benito on July 16, Susser Holdings said on Facebook.
Virginia
The Grandin Village Texaco station has rebranded to Pure Oil, reported The Roanoke Times in mid August. Owner Bill Millner said it was necessary because Chevron, which owns Texaco, is halting retail operations in some states, including Virginia. Millner's Grandin Automotive is one of several stations in the Roanoke Valley that eliminated Texaco fuel this month. Another station in Daleville now sells Spirit fuel.
Washington
The Kalispel Tribe of Indians is developing a c-store and gas station on part of a large parcel of land it owns just south of its recently expanded Northern Quest Resort & Casino, in Airway Heights, said The Journal of Business. Garco Construction Inc., Spokane, began work on the project in mid-March and was expected to complete it in mid-August.
West Virginia
7-Eleven opened a new store in Cumberland in early August at a site formerly occupied by RG's, said The Cumberland Times-News. The business will be owned by Todd Umstott, who also owns 7-Eleven franchise locations in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Umstott estimated that the store may be open by September. He added that he's also purchasing the RG's location in Keyser, W.Va., and remodeling it into an independent c-store.
Wisconsin
Q Mart celebrated the grand opening of c-store in Sheboygan on August 18 with food, coffee and fountain sampling and contests.
Please send your store openings and related announcements to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@cspnet.com,www.twitter.com/glcspdn or www.facebook.com/glcspdn.
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