Take a closer look at Applegreen’s plans to revamp 18 service plazas across Massachusetts

Irish convenience-store and travel stop retailer Applegreen is undertaking a $750 million project to redevelop and refurbish 18 service plazas across Massachusetts. 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) on June 18 awarded Applegreen a 35-year lease on the properties, which stretch from Boston to the Berkshires and beyond. 

After the lease was awarded, Applegreen launched a web page with more details on its plans for Massachusetts and renderings of the sites. Click through to see renderings of the future service plazas ...

Applegreen is working with Suffolk Construction and Upland Architects on the project. Applegreen said it is working with 700 local construction employees and 1,500 travel plaza employees to “radically improve” the customer experience at each of the 18 travel plazas. 

• Applegreen PLC is No. 47 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count. 

Applegreen and MassDOT are in a six-month transition agreement where Applegreen will prepare a master revitalization plan. Then a lease and concessions agreement will take effect Jan. 1, at which time Applegreen begins operations and maintenance of the existing service plazas, according to a MassDOT presentation. 

The team has created three unique revitalization concepts for the service plazas—Western, Central and Coastal.  

Western is a tribute to the rustic beauty of the Berkshires, Applegreen said, and will feature black-trimmed wood siding, peaked roofs and board-and-batten elements.

Central will have a sleek and contemporary look, with anodized metal, glass and flat roofs, while Coastal will be feature a light, airy and inviting design with beachwood finishes, Applegreen said. 

“Service plazas are more than a place to stop for gas and a snack—they are a vital part of the Commonwealth’s public image as a travel destination, an important asset for the business ecosystem and a member of the local communities they serve. Our vision is driven by a hospitality model that is designed to better serve local residents and visitors alike,” Applegreen posted to LinkedIn on Sunday. 

 

The travel plazas will include amenities like convenience goods, national food and beverage brands, restaurants, cafes, shops, fuel, electric vehicle charging, dog parks (pictured above) and more. 

Dublin-based Applegreen is the largest operator of service plazas in the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom. It has 530 locations and more than 700 food and beverage offerings. 

Applegreen has undertaken a similar project with service plazas for the New York State Thruway Authority. It said in December that it planned on growing its U.S. travel plazas as part of a $1 billion global investment over the next five years.