New Convenience-Store Roundup for May 2016
By Greg Lindenberg on Jun. 06, 2016OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. -- This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new convenience-store openings, closings and stores under new ownership for the month of May 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 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.
Iowa
Kum & Go opened the doors May 12 to its newly built convenience store in Coralville, Iowa, using the new, more than 6,200-square-foot Marketplace design prototype. The centerpiece of the store is an expanded and open food preparation area. It also features an elevated food experience with Go Fresh Market, clear aisles and easy-to-navigate zones, seating inside with heated patio seating outside, complimentary Wi-Fi and charging stations, a beer cave and a growler station. The store is designed for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified status, using energy efficient and sustainable design practices.
Massachusetts
Circle K franchisee Yasser (Sunny) Hussain held a grand opening May 5 for a new Circle K convenience store in Holyoke, Mass. Hussain, the site’s owner, took a vacant and abandoned building in the downtown area and completely renovated the space into a new Circle K.
Minnesota
The Station is up and running in Deer Creek, Minn. Cole Zeise took over the former Deer Creek Oil and Tire business and started May 9 as the new owner and operator. The gas station carries Java Classics coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, caramel rolls and pizzas, along with typical convenience-store options. He now carries Miltona Meats, including brats and jerky. It also now sells lottery tickets. The station carries diesel and kerosene fuel.
Missouri
Speedy’s opened a remodeled convenience store and Sinclair gas station in early May in St. Joseph, Mo. Besides a new look and feel of modern tile and wood, the store offers mobile pay at the pump.
New Jersey
QuickChek opened a new, 5,496-square-foot convenience store in Howell, N.J., on May 10. The 24-hour location features a Q Café. Additional store amenities include no-fee ATMs, indoor seating for 13 people and outdoor seating for eight, eight gasoline pumps and 65 parking spaces.
The new Pine Barrens Store in Shamong, N.J., held its grand opening on May 28. It has the snacks, drinks and coffee counter of a general store but the hand-carved woodwork, local foods and crafts of a country store. Hand stripped and stained cedar tree logs support rows of shelving that offer local honeys, hot sauces and camping supplies, as well as trail maps. It also features books about South Jersey. The checkout counter is made from a tree that came from Philadelphia. The store also sells fresh produce in little baskets. A large, wooden crate out front will hold more produce from local farmers in summer and fall.
New York
A new Byrne Dairy convenience store in New Hartford, N.Y., held a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 19. The previous store had been there for more than 40 years; the new store has all the same staples as well as gas and other groceries.
North Carolina
Harris Teeter held the grand opening of the seven-pump Waterside Crossing Fuel Center on May 20 in Denver, N.C., its fourth fuel center in North Carolina.
Ohio
Open since May 2, The T and J Fast Food Mart took over a former Circle K site in Bucyrus, Ohio. Owner Tammy Musser said she plans to expand the convenience store to include a kitchen that will serve fried chicken, sandwiches and more.
Pennsylvania
Rutter’s Farm Stores opened new convenience stores in Leola and York Springs, Pa., in May offering Cold Grab-N-Go, R’Kitchen and dine-in seating (click here to take virtual tours of the new stores).
John and Tisha Hughes retired in May after 41 years of owning Hughes Auto Service, a Sunoco gas station and repair shop in Middletown Township in Pennsylvania. Longtime employee Bob Curry is taking over the station.
Tennessee
TravelCenters of America opened a TA in Caryville, Tenn., in late May. The location underwent extensive remodeling and changes to make it a full-service travel center. It offers a five-bay truck service center; expanded truck parking lot with 80 spaces; six diesel lanes; a driver lounge with laptop desks and DirecTV; CAT scales; a professional driver entrance to the travel store; and a Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen quick-service restaurant (QSR) that seats 58. The Minit Mart travel store is stocked with Cool Cup fountain beverages, World Blends Coffee and fresh-food offerings from O’Deli’s kitchen; a laundry facility with machines that accept credit and debit cards and send the user a text when the cycle is finished; eight driver showers operated by an automated reservation system accessible through the TA/Petro TruckSmart mobile app; a StayFit fitness room free to drivers who are UltraONE Driver Rewards Program members; and an outdoor walking trail.
Photo: Business Wire
Texas
Pilot Flying J opened a Flying J Travel Plaza in Pasadena, Texas, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 24. Amenities include 12 fueling positions and eight diesel lanes; Arby’s, Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s; PJ Fresh fast-casual-food offerings, including pizza, soup, salads, sandwiches and hot dogs; coffee and cappuccino; and more.
Sunoco LP opened a Stripes Convenience Store in Victoria, Texas, on May 12 and its second Stripes Convenience Store in Port Arthur, Texas, on May 13. Both 7,000-square-foot locations feature Laredo Taco Company and 20 Sunoco-branded fuel-dispenser options, which include unleaded, superunleaded and diesel. Both feature dining areas that seat 30, beer caves, fountains and more.
Buc-ee’s opened a new convenience store in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 16. It has nearly 100 gas pumps. It will have all the usual Buc-ee’s features, including the wide array of jerky, candy and drinks, plus some local twists. Also, the company is experimenting with a new way to present customers with dessert options. Unlike other Buc-ee’s locations, the new store features a centralized area for sugary treats.
A new H-E-B Convenience Store opened in San Antonio on May 14.
Virginia
Sheetz cut the ribbon on a new convenience store on May 5 in Bristol, Va.
Wyoming
The Hat Six Travel Plaza in Evansville, Wyo., held a grand opening on May 26. It features fast-casual restaurants Schlotzky’s Bakery Café and Moe’s Southwest Grill—the first ever combined location—as a well as the Cowboy Deli and a full convenience store. It has “a few dozen” unleaded and diesel fuel pumps an RV dumping station. Owners plan to add a dog park and a children’s playground.
Send your new-store announcements to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@winsightmedia.com.