OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. -- This edition of the Open & Shut digest of new convenience store openings, sales, acquisitions and store closings features listings for the month of July 2014.
Many of the stores are owned by independent operators, while others belong to major chains, some part of CSP's Convenience Top 101.
The unscientific, monthly "snapshot" of newly opened or closed U.S. convenience stores, gas station, truckstops and travel centers not previously reported in CSP Daily News has been arranged by state. Click through each item for more details on each store.
Arkansas
Kum & Go opens its seventh convenience store in Jonesboro, Ark., on July 17. It razed an older store to make way for the new 5,000-square-foot store. It offers gasoline, diesel and E-85.
Colorado
Pilot Flying J has opened a Pilot Travel Center in Grand Junction, Colo., on July 14, its fourth in the state. It features 12 gasoline lanes and eight diesel lanes, a McDonald's and a PJ Fresh fast-casual food offering, including roasted chicken and home-style meatloaf, pizza, soup, salads, sandwiches and hot dogs.
Florida
A gas station that saved a Bradenton, Fla., church from closing open July 10 Thorntons Inc. paid $750,000 to the struggling Faith United Church of Christ for nearly two acres. Church officials had said they were struggling to pay a $4,000 monthly mortgage and the sale would enable it to free itself of debt and avoid relocation. The 24-hour gas station will feature 20 pumps, a 4,400-square-foot convenience store and a buffer of fence and trees between the Braden River Lakes neighborhood.
Georgia
Parker's held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 10 to officially open the company's new multi-million dollar convenience store with drive-thru sales, the company's 4th store in Statesboro, Ga., and a new business model.
Iowa
The Earlville (Iowa) Corner Stop opened in mid-July, said store manager Al Kruse. It offers gasoline as well as c-store items such as dairy products, pop, beer and other merchandise. The store also offers broasted chicken and other grill items.
Kansas
QuikTrip opened a new convenience store in Wichita, Kansas, in late July.
Kentucky
Houchens Industries opened a Crossroads IGA in Smiths Grove. Ky., on July 16. The 11,000 square-foot facility is smaller than a traditional grocery store in order to help customers get in and out fast. Approximately 75% percent of the store is dedicated to groceries, while the remaining space is dedicated to a convenience-store selection, an in-store QSR, specialty coffee and hot beverage bar and customizable fountain and frozen beverage bar. Fuel, including diesel, is also available onsite 24 hours a day.
Massachusetts
A new convenience store opened in early July in Ayer, Mass. Ayer Convenience will offer much of the same items as the previous Cumberland Farms did, said owner Danny Patel. The store will also offer lottery tickets.
Cumberland Farms opened its newest store in early July in Auburn, Mass., and held a grand opening on July 10.
Minnesota
A new Cenex station opened in Lake Park, Minn., on July 7. "It's not like any other convenience store you've probably ever seen," said Community Co-ops general manager Dave Blomseth. "It's got cedar vaulted ceilings, granite countertops, real stone around the sides." The convenience store section of Cenex was nearly 20 years old, and the gas station was about 60 years old. The new store is twice the size at 5,000 square feet and houses an A&W restaurant and offers Hot Stuff Pizza.
New York
The former Frontier Town Gas Station in North Hudson, N.Y., reopened in mid-July or sooner, said Muhammad Ahmad.
Stewart's Shops held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for a convenience store in Guilderland, N.Y., on July 11.
Ohio
A BP station in Lima, Ohio, closed in July. It has been rebranded as a Circle K convenience store.
Oklahoma
Pilot Flying J opened a Pilot Travel Center in Tonkawa, Okla., on July 28, its 11th in the state. It offers 12 gasoline lanes and eight diesel lanes; a Taco Bell; PJ Fresh fast-casual food including roasted chicken, meatloaf, pizza, soup, salads, sandwiches and hot dogs; premium coffee and cappuccino; and everyday products.
Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a location in Erick, Okla., with a grand opening on July 18, replacing a store built in 1989.
QuikTrip opened its 71st Tulsa, Okla., area store, on July 30, featuring a QT Kitchens, which offer fresh food, with some traditional menu items but also several original concepts such as a bacon-and-maple-flavored milkshake and a breakfast pizza.
Pennsylvania
Englefield Oil Co., owner of a BP and Duchess Shoppe in Lancaster, Pa., shut down the convenience store in late July to demolish it and rebuild it with a new design.
A new, 6,900-square-foot Sheetz convenience store opened July 3 in Millersville, Pa. The store will have seven gas pumps, made-to-order sandwiches and inside seating for about 35. This will be the ninth Sheetz in Lancaster County.
Rhode Island
Cumberland Farms opened a new convenience store in Johnston, R.I., on July 10. "We've been at this location for years," said Rick Lauder, regional manager. "The company decided to completely tear down the existing store and build this beautiful facility--a modernized design and architectural features to better serve our customers." It features 10 filling positions for gas.
South Carolina
Parker's held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 10 to officially open the company's new multi-million dollar convenience store in Port Royal, S.C., the company's 6th store in Beaufort County, the first in the northern part of the county.
Tennessee
On July 23, CITGO Petroleum and CITGO retailer Ziptron Energy Inc. celebrated the grand opening of the Carroll Grocery CITGO in Talbott, Tenn.
The Best Corner Express BP gas station and convenience store in the Defense Depot area in Memphis, Tenn., sold for $850,000. Best Corner Express LLC bought the retail property in a July 11 warranty deed from 3015 Lamar LLC, which had acquired it in 2011 from Circle K Stores Inc. for $500,000. Built in 1987, the store sits on 0.8 acres.
Texas
Pilot Flying J has opened a Pilot Travel Center in Tilden, Texas, on July 28, featuring 12 gasoline lanes and six diesel lanes; a Subway; PJ Fresh fast-casual food including roasted chicken, meatloaf, pizza, soup, salads, sandwiches and hot dogs; premium coffee and cappuccino; and everyday products. The new facility is Pilot Flying J's 51st location in Texas.
Susser held a grand opening for a new Stripes Convenience Store in Deer Park, Texas, on July 11. It features a Laredo Taco Co.; 20 Stripes-branded fuel dispenser options which include unleaded, unleaded plus and diesel with a truck diesel stop; a dining area which seats 50; "the beer super cooler," a designated cooler for beer and adult beverages set to cool below 32-degrees Fahrenheit, as well as an 7,000-square-foot store.
Susser also held a grand opening for a new Stripes Convenience Store in George West, Texas, on July 25. It features a Laredo Taco Co.; 24 Stripes-branded fuel dispenser options which include unleaded, unleaded plus and diesel with a truck diesel stop; a dining area which seats 40; "the beer super cooler," a designated cooler for beer and adult beverages set to cool below 32-degrees Fahrenheit, as well as am 8,000-square-foot store.
The Ice Box has officially opened in Little Elm, Texas, on July 14. John McCauley, director of branding for Fort Worth, Texas-based Paragon Solutions Inc., designed the convenience store.
Vermont
The Stewart's Shop in Pownal, Vt., got a redesign in mid-July. Construction crews expanded the shop, updated the counter layout, added a ceramic tile floor and installed LED lighting inside and outside the shop. It also added a pizza oven. The company held a TGIFinished celebration on July 19.
West Virginia
One Stop Convenience Stores opened a new convenience store in Sophia, W.Va., in late July, designed by Fort Worth, Texas-based Paragon Solutions Inc.
Please send your new-store announcements to glindenberg@cspnet.com.
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