Being community-centric is a top priority for the recently opened Spinx Market & Eatery in downtown Greenville, South Carolina, CEO Steve Spinks told CSP Daily News.
“We knew we wanted to have a Spinx presence on main street because Greenville is our home,” Spinks said. “It took some time to find the right space, but we believe this is the perfect fit. We’re thrilled to launch the first of this new concept in the heart of downtown Greenville.”
The new store is located at 659 S. Main St., and features made-to-order gourmet food items, bakery items, and Spinx’s fried chicken. The new store is for those who live, work and play in downtown Greenville. Whether someone wants to sit down and have lunch or just needs to grab items quickly, there is something for everyone, Spinks said.
“The Spinx motto is ‘making lives easier’ and we strive to do just that,” he said.
As convenience stores continue to blur the lines between restaurant and grocery, Spinks said it is important to continue to pay attention to your customers.
“My Dad [Stewart], our founder, has always been committed to listening to customers and growing with them as trends change,” Spinks said. “It’s important to grow with your customers and to continue to find ways to make their lives a little easier. To be successful in this space, you have to be flexible.”
Looking at the industry, Spinks said for c-store operators, convenience is still key, but that it looks different for all customers.
“Offering choices, such as our self-checkout kiosks lets the customer decide what type of experience they want,” he said. “We continue to partner with Tesla to provide charging stations for those customers who want a safe place to charge that also offers food, snacks and clean restrooms.”
Another big priority, Spinks said, is working with local vendors. The new store has now partnered with 17 different local vendors. “We expect that to grow, especially seasonally,” Spinks said.
The site of the new concept store dates to 1884. In 1935, it was used as a gas station, and Spinx said it has paid homage to the former Sinclair service station by incorporating its unique features into its design.
Spinx is No. 77 on CSP’s 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.
Spinx began in 1972 with a home heating oil delivery service and one convenience store in Greenville. The company now operates more than 90 convenience stores across the Carolinas.
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