CORSICANA, Texas — QuikTrip Corp. is celebrating a significant company milestone, opening its 900th convenience store nationwide. The store, in Corsicana, Texas, just south of Dallas, opened on July 22.
- QuikTrip is No. 11 in CSP’s 2021 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by size.
The Tulsa, Okla.-based chain’s footprint has grown significantly in its 63-year history, extending its stores across 12 states and opening its new line of remote travel centers in several new cities over the last 18 months.
In 1958, Burt Holmes and Chester Cadieux invested their life savings to open the first-ever QuikTrip, which was a small grocery store in their hometown of Tulsa. Over six decades later, the company has expanded its offerings and geographical footprint to 12 states, with four more states—Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, and Colorado—in the pipeline to open within the next year. With more than $11 billion in revenue, the company has more than 24,000 employees nationwide.
“We are proud of the strategic progress QT has made over the course of our 63-year history,” said Corporate Communication Manager Aisha Jefferson-Smith. “To think back on this small grocery store that was started decades ago, and look at where we are now, opening our 900th sophisticated convenience store is truly humbling. Our team has worked incredibly hard to be at the forefront of the c-store industry. We hold a great amount of pride in our investment in our people and the communities we serve.”
QuikTrip’s 900th store opens just two years after the company celebrated its 800th store in the San Antonio metro in 2019.
QuikTrip Milestones
1958: Burt Holmes and Chester Cadieux invest and operate a small grocery store they decided to call QuikTrip.
1962: QuikTrip earns its first-ever annual profit from its 1961-62 fiscal year.
1968: QuikTrip expands outside of Oklahoma, opening store No. 150 in Grandview, Mo., and has grown to nearly 50 stores.
1971: QuikTrip expands into Wichita, Kan., after merging with Shopeze.
1971: QuikTrip sells its first gallon of gasoline in Tulsa.
1974: QuikTrip expands into Iowa.
1976: Stores company-wide are open 24 hours.
1976: QuikTrip’s iconic logo is created.
1978: QuikTrip’s 200th store opens in Raytown, Mo.
1986: QuikTrip opens two new markets in St. Louis and Atlanta.
1992: QuikTrip’s 300th store opens in Sand Springs, Okla.
1996: QuikTrip expands into Omaha, Neb.
1999: QuikTrip expands in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with its first store in Arlington, Texas.
2000: QuikTrip launches its Phoenix, Ariz., market.
2002: QuikTrip announces Chet Cadieux, son of Chester Cadieux, as president of the company.
2002: QuikTrip’s 400th store opens in Tempe, Ariz.
2005: QuikTrip creates and opens QT Kitchens bakery and commissary in Tulsa to begin its fresh food venture.
2007: CSP names Chester Cadieux Retail Leader of the Year.
2008: QuikTrip opens 500th store in Broken Arrow, Okla.
2008: QuikTrip celebrates its 50th birthday with a day-long festival along the banks of the Arkansas River in Tulsa.
2010: QuikTrip opens its first “Gen 3” store in Tulsa, Okla. The store is a new prototype that will be used in years to come and can accommodate the upcoming QT Kitchens.
2011: QuikTrip launches its Carolinas Division, which includes Charlotte, N.C. and Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.
2012: QuikTrip opens its 600th store in Claremore, Okla.
2013: QuikTrip introduces QT Kitchens, a fresh, made-to-order menu created in full-service kitchens.
2014: QuikTrip opens 700th store and hosts celebration party in suburban St. Louis.
2017: QuikTrip is named to FORTUNE Magazine’s list of 100 Best Companies to Work For, for the 15th-straight year.
2018: QuikTrip launches its Austin and San Antonio Division with the opening of its Live Oak, Texas, store.
2019: CSP names Chet Cadieux Retail Leader of the Year.
2019: QuikTrip opens 800th store in San Antonio.
2020: QuikTrip launches Curbside pickup service.
For more details, read Continuous Development: A QuikTrip Timeline
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