Buc-ee’s writes the book-ee: Buc-ee’s is writing the book on mega-retailing. Now Katherine Alpin, daughter of Buc-ee's founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, has written a children’s book featuring the convenience store and gas station’s mascot, Buc-ee Beaver. “Buc-ee Goes to School” is about the “iconic beaver embarking on a fun and heartwarming first day of school.” The Lake Jackson, Texas-based company touted the release on Instagram in connection with the opening July 1 of its 74,000-square-foot c-store in Brunswick, Georgia. “Our first children’s book, Buc-ee Goes to School, is out now! Pick up a copy this summer when you hit the road and tell us below—where should Buc-ee go next?” Festivities included a book signing with the author ahead of the store opening. The chain also opened a new location in Mount Crawford, Virginia, on June 30, its first in the Old Dominion State. —Greg Lindenberg
C-store sleepover: If you’ve always wanted to spend the night in a Japanese c-store parking lot, you are in luck. Lawson, one of that country’s largest convenience retailers, is testing a program for the next year at six stores in which drivers can reserve overnight parking lot spots for about $17 a night, according to a report this week in The Japan Times. The retailer said it would likely expand the program to more stores in rural areas, where hotels and other accommodations are scarce. Overnight c-store guests can use the store’s restroom and also rent power cords, according to the report. “We can also provide a sense of security since they are always staff in the store,” a Lawson representative said. Plus, there’s no better place to be than outside of a c-store when those 3 a.m. munchies hit. Pork Buns and Milk Cream Rolls for everyone! —Heather Lalley
And … action! A casting call for actors to appear in Kwik Trip commercials received more than 350 emails—not surprising considering the popularity of the c-store chain. The call seeks four coworkers and four customers for shooting at a Kwik Trip in Holmen, Wisconsin, on July 16, and all roles will be non-speaking. The actors, each of whom will receive a $100 Kwik Trip gift card as compensation, will interact with each other as Kwik Trip coworkers and customers. The casting call, shared by the La Crosse Community Theater on its Facebook page, included an update on June 18 that read: “A note from our friends at Kwik Trip: Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in the Kwik Trip casting call. We are reviewing the 350+ emails we received and plan to select our cast by early next week. Your talent and enthusiasm have blown us away! There will be more opportunities in the future.” —Chuck Ulie
From convenience to climate action: 7-Eleven has cut its carbon emissions by about 43% between 2013 and 2023, according to its 2024 Impact Report—and the c-store retailer doesn’t plan on slowing down. The company is targeting a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from its stores by 2030, compared to 2013 levels. This progress comes from a push into renewable energy and more than 2,000 energy efficiency upgrades across its locations. These include store remodels with energy-smart lighting, refrigeration, foodservice equipment, high-efficiency HVAC/variable frequency drive systems and advanced energy management tools. —Rachel Gignac
Sparkling public restrooms? Yes please! Clean public restrooms aren’t a luxury, they’re a must—especially on a road trip. Health and hygiene brand Tena conducted research using four key factors: discoverability, density, cleanliness and accessibility to find out which U.S. states and cities have the “most discoverable” public bathrooms. Curious to know which state ranks highest? Let’s take a look. The top three states with the highest overall score include Wyoming, Montana and Hawaii. On the flipside, Kentucky, New Hampshire and Georgia received the lowest overall scores. —Diane Adam
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.