WAKE FOREST, N.C. -- Sheetz Inc. opened its 50th North Carolina store on Valentine's Day in Wake Forest, N.C. The retailer entered North Carolina almost 10 years ago with the plan to develop a strong presence in the Tar Heel State.
Sheetz is in the middle of a blitz of new store growth that started with the latest stores in Rocky Mount, Washington and Garner just opening in the last six weeks.
At the grand opening celebration on Thursday, executive vice president of marketing Louie Sheetz cut the ribbon together with the new store team, town and county officials.
"Today we are at 50 stores and counting in North Carolina, with several more scheduled to open in the coming months," he said. "Customer loyalty and a high-quality employee base are two big reasons we are excited about what North Carolina means to the company's future."
The new 6,400-square-foot store will provide an economic boost to the area, creating 40 to 45 new full and part-time jobs, while adding $3.5 million taxable property value to the city and county tax base.
"Selecting the city of Burlington as the site for our second distribution center is based on the great opportunities for growth this state has to offer and our strong commitment to be here for a long time," said Sheetz. The company plans to break ground on that facility later this summer. The celebration in Wake Forest included free food and beverages, games and prizes. Sheetz also made a $2,500 donation to the Special Olympics North Carolina. The company has been a supporter of the Special Olympics for more than 20 years.
Established in 1952 in Altoona, Pa., Sheetz has more than $6 billion in annual revenue and more than 15,000 employees. The company operates approximately 440 locations throughout Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and West Virginia. All of the Sheetz locations are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and offer fresh food items such as Sheetz' signature Made-To-Order (MTO) items that include Angus beef burgers, premium grilled chicken sandwiches, freshly made salads, French fries, onion rings and more, ordered through touch-screen order-point terminals.. The stores also feature MTGo! and Shweetz Bakery lines of sandwiches, wraps, donuts and muffins, along with Sheetz Bros. Coffeez, a full-service espresso and smoothie bar staffed by a trained barista where customers can order handmade specialty coffee drinks including lattes, cappuccinos and mochas--hot, frozen or iced.
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