OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. -- This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new convenience-store openings, sales and store closings for the month of November 2015.
The unscientifically gathered roundup--gleaned from company announcements, websites and newspapers around the country, among other sources--is by no means complete, but serves as a monthly competitive snapshot of newly opened or closed U.S. convenience stores, gas stations, truckstops and travel centers not previously reported in CSP Daily News.
Many of the stores are owned by independent operators, while others belong to major chains, some part of CSP's Convenience Top 101. Some represent new entrepreneurs just getting into retailing, while others tell of families with longtime businesses exiting the industry.
The list has been arranged by state. Click through each item for more details on each store.
Your store not listed? Please send your new-store announcements to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@cspnet.com.
California
A new Circle K convenience store opened on Nov. 1 in San Carlos, Calif. This location offers beer and wine, diesel and lottery; the site is also co-branded with Shell fuel.
Delaware
Wawa Inc. held the grand opening for a new convenience store in Claymont, Del., on Nov. 20, its 43rd in the state.
Florida
Wawa Inc. held the grand opening for a new convenience store in Largo, Fla., on Nov. 19.
Hawaii
Foodland held the grand opening of its 24-Hour Foodland Gas Station Laie and Convenience Store at the Laie Shopping Center on Nov. 20, near the company's supermarket in Laie on Oahu's North Shore. The c-store offers cold drinks, ice, snacks, grab-and-go meals and basic essentials. Aloha Petroleum and Foodland Super Market Ltd., a subsidiary of The Sullivan Family of Cos., have collaborated on opening three other gas stations throughout the state.
Iowa
On Nov. 19, Kum & Go LC opened a new 5,000-square-foot convenience store in Sioux City, Iowa. It offers freshly made-to-order pizzas, baked goods and breakfast and deli sandwiches prepared daily in Kum & Go’s onsite kitchen. Outside, a variety of fuel options give customers more value and choices at the pump, including diesel, E85 and a new alternative fuel option in E15.
The Quik Stop convenience store opened in Burlington, Iowa, in mid-November.
Kansas
A new Murphy USA gas station opened next to the Hutchinson, Kansas, Walmart, on Nov. 9.
Kentucky
Food City opened a new Gas’N Go multi-pump facility near its grocery store in Harlan, Ky., in early November.
Maine
A Circle K convenience store in Rockland, Maine, closed its doors in mid-November and the property has been dismantled. The 2,400-square-foot store opened in 1985. The property is owned by Spirit SPE Portfolio 2012-2 LLC and Cobalt Properties, Saint John, Nova Scotia.
After owning the small family store, Joseph’s Market, in Waterville, Maine, for the last 30 years, Kevin and Diane Joseph sold it in November to Ireen Huda and Mohammad Ali, who plan to keep the market’s name and all its employees. The market, which specializes in fine meats, this year is celebrating 90 years of operation. Huda and her husband, Ekram, own 7-Eleven stores in Old Orchard Beach and Lewiston as well as a convenience store, gas station and restaurant in Sabattus called the Settlement.
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Maryland
The “Queen City,” Cumberland, Md., is now home to the state’s first Love’s Travel Stop. The 24-hour, 10,000-square-foot facility opened on Nov. 19 and offers Subway and McDonald’s restaurants, as well as coffee, fresh fruit, merchandise, electronics and more. It has seven showers, 90 truck parking spaces and a Love’s Truck Tire Care center.
Massachusetts
A Cumberland Farms convenience store in Fairhaven, Mass., hosted a grand opening on Nov. 2.
The Randolph Automotive Service Center and Mobil gas station in Randolph, Mass., opened a remodeled facility with a convenience store on Nov. 11. The repair shop remained open during construction.
Minnesota
Kwik Trip Inc. opened new convenience stores in Hinckley, Minn., on Nov. 1, and in South St. Paul, Minn., on Nov. 19.
New Hampshire
The Mobil gas station and Mr. Mike’s convenience store in Peterborough, N.H., closed in mid-November to make way for a new, larger gas station and convenience store to open in the spring.
The Boulder Group is selling a 7-Eleven property in Manchester, N.H., the real-estate firm announced on Nov. 18. It is located less than two miles from downtown, with a corporately guaranteed 7-Eleven lease and no landlord responsibilities. 7-Eleven is an investment-grade rated tenant (S&P: AA-); it has a successful operating history at this location since 2001.
New Jersey
Wawa Inc. held the grand opening for a new convenience store in Hackensack, N.J., on Nov. 20.
New Mexico
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. opened a new location in Albuquerque, N.M., on Nov. 23. It offers Love’s Fast-Fill CNG for heavy-duty trucks and a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling option. The store also offers coffee, fresh fruit, gift items, electronics and Carl’s Jr. and Green Burrito restaurants. The 24/7 travel stop features seven showers, 65 parking spaces, RFID cardless fueling, CAT scales and a Love’s Truck Tire Care center.
New York
QuickChek Corp. opened a new convenience store in Lakewood, N.Y., on Nov. 16. It is open 24 hours a day and features the company’s fresh food and beverage program with touch-screen technology to create custom-made oven-toasted subs, sandwiches, wraps and salads. In-store Q Cafés offer nearly 40 varieties of handcrafted hot and iced cold coffees, iced caramel macchiato, fresh-brewed cappuccinos, lattes and espressos, blended-to-order real fruit smoothies and frozen treats. It also features no-fee ATMs.
A new Cumberland Farms convenience store held a grand opening on Nov. 23 in Latham, N.Y.
Oklahoma
The Sinclair Travel Stop, Fiesta Mart convenience store and restaurant near I-44 in Catoosa, Okla., shut down in early November. A spokesperson for QuikTrip has confirmed that the company will build a new travel plaza-inspired convenience stores at that location.
Pennsylvania
Wawa Inc. held the grand opening for a new convenience store in Jamison, Pa., on Nov. 20.
Tennessee
In early November, Caroline Scharfstein, owner of the One Stop convenience store and gas station in Johnson City, Tenn., and her son Phil Scharfstein, owner of One Stop Wines, sold the c-store to KenJo Markets.
Weigel's Inc. on Nov. 17 celebrated the opening of a convenience store in Bearden, Tenn. There had been a Weigel's at the location since 1975, one of the company’s oldest, with two gasoline dispensers. The company tore it down to make way for the new store, which has eight pumps. It also added a deli department with fresh, made-to-order sandwiches, paninis and pizza. Other freshly prepared foods include hamburgers, quesadillas, hot dogs and sausage rolls. All stores have large selections of milk, ice cream and other dairy items.
Texas
Stripes Convenience Stores hosted grand-opening fiestas and ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Nov. 11 for c-stores in Colorado City and Denver City, Texas. The stores feature the company’s Laredo Taco Co. and 32 (Colorado City) 20 (Denver City) Sunoco-branded fuel dispenser options including diesel. They each have a dining area that seats 30, a “beer super cooler,” a designated cooler for beer and adult beverages set to cool below 32 degrees Fahrenheit; “the wall,” a space for customers to customize fountain drinks with more than “1.2 billion” possible combinations, as well as 7,000 square feet of other customer conveniences.
Washington, D.C.
In mid-November, Marcus & Millichap brokered the sale of a 3,911-square-foot 7-Eleven store in Washington, D.C.’s, Georgetown neighborhood. Marty Zupancic, Dean Zang and Christian Barreiro of Marcus & Millichap’s Washington, D.C., office represented the seller, a local family estate that has owned the property since 1928. Zang and Josh Ein of Marcus & Millichap’s TZD Retail Team secured and represented the buyer, a local, privately held investment manager. 7-Eleven has approximately eight years remaining on its lease.
West Virginia
The Sunnyside Superette, a convenience store that opened in 1938, closed its doors in early November in Morgantown, W.Va. It was operated by the DeBiase family for three generations before changing ownership. Peter McGinley, the fifth and final owner, took over Sunnyside Superette in 2001. He cited the changing culture at nearby West Virginia University (WVU), the opening of a fuel-free Sheetz at University Place that took away valuable customers, and a road closure are what doomed his business.
Wisconsin
Kwik Trip Inc. opened new convenience stores in Menasha, Wis., on Nov. 2, and Menominee Falls, Wis., on Nov. 12.
In Wausau, Wis., Fast Fuel Mart, formerly home to an auto shop, has been converted into a gas station and convenience store, which opened the last week of November. In addition to a 3,000-square-foot c-store, Fast Fuel Mart will be home to two gas dispensers. There will be no diesel pumps, but owner Raj Bhandari said he hopes to ultimately have four dispensers at the site. The gas station hours are from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. The store will sell beer and liquor.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. opened its doors for business today along Interstate 94, Exit 45, in Menomonie, Wis., on Nov. 19, its fourth in Wisconsin. The 24-hour, 11,000-square-foot facility features a Hardee’s restaurant and offers coffee, fresh fruit, merchandise, electronics and more. It has seven showers, 74 truck-parking spaces and a Love’s Truck Tire Care center.
Team Schierl Cos. open its newest convenience store in late November in Saratoga, Wis. The location, the company’s 25th, will have a full foodservice offering including a hot case and bakery case and an open-air cold case with cheese and local meat snacks, a coffee and cappuccino bar, fountain soda, beer cave and liquor. It will also have a Subway.
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