New Convenience-Store Roundup for September 2016
By Greg Lindenberg on Oct. 23, 2016CHICAGO -- This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new convenience-store openings, closings and stores under new ownership for the month of September 2016.
The unscientifically gathered roundup—gleaned from company announcements, websites, social media and newspapers around the country, among other sources—is by no means complete, but it serves as a monthly competitive snapshot of newly opened or closed U.S. convenience stores, gas stations, truckstops and travel centers not previously reported in CSP Daily News.
Many of the stores are owned by independent operators, while others belong to major chains, some part of CSP’s Convenience Top 101. Some represent new entrepreneurs, while others are longtime businesses exiting the industry.
Click through for a state-by-state breakdown …
Alabama
CEFO Convenience Stores opened a new c-store in Mobile, Ala., on Sept. 26, its first new-to-industry (NTI) location in the state.
California
Lee & Associates has arranged the purchase of a gas-station site in Escondido, Calif. ASAP Investments acquired the 28,750-square-foot lot, which includes a 1,050-square-foot station, for $2 million. The buyer plans to rebrand the site, which was formerly a Valero, as an independent gas station.
Florida
Wawa opened c-stores in Orlando on Sept. 8, Stuart, Fla., on Sept. 15 and Tampa, Fla., on Sept. 29.
The Capital City Travel Center, formerly known as the Big Bend Travel Plaza in Lloyd, Fla., was scheduled to be demolished in late September.
Hawaii
In mid-September, Aloha Petroleum Ltd. began operating a newly built gas station in Hawaii Kai in east Oahu at the site of a station formerly operated by Tesoro.
Illinois
Thorntons Inc. opened a new c-store in Waukegan, Ill., on Sept. 23. It offers Thorntons Unleaded15-branded E15 fueling option (up to 15% ethanol, 85% gasoline with an octane rating of 88). With this store opening, 20 stores in the Chicago area are offering this fuel.
Indiana
A CountryMark gas station opened in Prairie Creek, Ind., in early September, owned by Curtis Bodine. The newly renovated site also features a c-store including pizza, a sub shop and a bakery with Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Ceres Solutions is supplying the CountryMark fuel at this new retail site.
A new Sunoco gas station and c-store opened in mid-September in Mooresville, Ind., at the site of a former Swiftee Gas station.
Love’s Travel Stops opened for business in Terre Haute, Ind., on Sept. 29. The 10,000-square-foot facility is open 24/7 and features a Hardee’s restaurant, fruit, gift items and more. The location also has 70 truck-parking spaces, five showers, RFID cardless fueling, CAT scales and other driver services.
Iowa
Kwik Trip opned a 9,000-square-foot Kwik Star c-store with a car wash in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sept. 22. (Slide 1)
Kum & Go opened a new c-store on Sept. 23 in Des Moines, Iowa. The more than 6,200-square-foot store featuring the new Marketplace store design has an elevated food experience with Go Fresh Market; an open kitchen layout, clear aisles and easy-to-navigate zones; seating inside with heated patio seating outside; complimentary Wi-Fi and charging stations; and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified status.
Kansas
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new Love’s Country Store on Sept. 15 in Meade, Kansas. It offers a Subway restaurant.
Maryland
Dash In held a grand opening event Sept. 8 for a c-store in Baltimore.
Massachusetts
Colbea Enterprises LLC opened a new Seasons Corner Market c-store in Raynham, Mass., on Sept. 30
Minnesota
Kwik Trip opened a c-store in St. Joseph, Minn., on Sept 2.
On Sept. 15, local investor BLS Roch LLC bought a Holiday c-store and car wash in Rochester, Minn., from Reco Real Estate LLC for $1.5 million and will lease it back to Holiday, which built the location in 2014 when it returned to the market by buying seven Rochester SuperAmerica stations. It closed two of the stores, rebranded the rest and then built two new ones.
Mississippi
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new travel stop Sept. 15 in Lake, Miss. It features an IHOP Express restaurant. It offers seven showers, 80 truck-parking spaces and Love’s Truck Tire Care.
New York
Stewart’s Shops opened a c-store in Liverpool, N.Y., on Sept. 28 (click here for video). It also held a grand opening Sept. 30 for a c-store in Coxsackie, N.Y., next to a former location (click here for video).
Ohio
Giant Eagle opened a 6,000-square-foot GetGo Café + Market in Brunswick, Ohio, on Sept. 14.
Oklahoma
Route 66 Express, which was closed for about a year, reopened on Sept. 12 in Quapaw, Okla., under the new ownership of Albert and Tabatha Ray. The 1,300-square-foot c-store offers a variety of food including sandwiches and pizza, as well as fresh produce and grocery items. It makes biscuits and gravy, breakfast pizza and cinnamon rolls daily for breakfast and deli sandwiches for lunch and dinner.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new travel stop Sept. 15 in Okmulgee, Okla. It features an IHOP Express restaurant. It offers 59 truck-parking spaces and five showers.
Oregon
The Tillamook Shell and Grocery in Tillamook, Ore., closed on Sept. 30. The gas station and c-store, which has been serving customers since 1947, closed its doors to make way for the U.S. Highway 101/Oregon Highway 6 Traffic Safety Improvement Program. Sheldon Oil Co. found positions for affected employees at its other five locations.
Pennsylvania
In mid-September, commercial real-estate investment services firm Marcus & Millichap sold a 15-year Sheetz ground lease in Manheim, Pa. The 6,103-square-foot c-store is part of the company’s new prototype launch that includes 24-hour service and a car wash.
Rutter’s Farm Stores opened a new c-store in Hamburg, Pa., on Sept. 29. The more than 7,800-square-foot store has 12 automotive fueling positions, four high-speed diesel bays and a staff of 50 new employees. The dining area seats more than 30 customers and offers free Wi-Fi. It also has a walk-in beer cave and wine section.
South Carolina
On Sept. 15, Parker’s celebrated the grand opening of its newest c-store in Port Royal, S.C. It sells gasoline at eight fueling stations. The company also opened a c-store in Beaufort, S.C., on Sept. 23.
Vermont
Ron and Linda Frey opened the Frey Family Deli on Sept. 21 in Milton, Vt., in the space formerly occupied by the Dam Store. It offers sandwiches and salads, as well as chips and candy, lottery, beer, wine and tobacco. The grill is not working and will cost more than $3,000 to replace. The Freys will gauge customer interest in grilled items before deciding how quickly to move forward with the repair. They plan to sell maple products made from sap they collect themselves, as well as local jam and honey. The pay-at-the-pump Shamrock gas station has also reopened. The building’s owner will keep those profits.
Wisconsin
Kwik Trip opened c-stores in Baraboo, Wis., on Sept 4, in Waukesha, Wis., on Sept. 7, and in Mount Pleasant, Wis., on Sept. 29.
Ole and Lena's Fuel Stop opened in Oshkosh, Wis., in mid-September. It does not have a convenience store.