New Convenience-Store Roundup for April 2019
By Greg Lindenberg on May 05, 2019CHICAGO — This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new c-store openings, closings and more for April 2019.
The unscientifically gathered roundup—gleaned from company announcements, websites, email, social media and newspapers around the country, among other sources—is by no means complete, but it 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.
- Click here for new c-store roundups from previous months, along with other grand-opening and new-store coverage. And click here for coverage of convenience-industry M&A activity.
Many of the stores listed here are owned by independent operators, while others belong to major chains. Many are part of CSP’s Top 202 list of c-store chains by size (and see the Top 40 update). Some of the owners and operators are new entrepreneurs, and some are industry veterans.
Unless otherwise mentioned, the new locations offer the food, snacks, beverages, tobacco, merchandise, services and amenities found in most c-stores. Most offer fuel.
Click through for a state-by-state breakdown …
Arizona
QuikTrip opened a new c-store in Chandler, Ariz., on April 11.
Net new stores*: 1
*Represents stores opened minus stores closed in this state for the month of this count only. Other c-stores not captured by this count may have opened or closed in the state. It also does not include store openings previously reported in CSP Daily News.
Arkansas
California
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new travel stop in Williams, Calif., on April 11. The more than 10,000-square-foot facility includes a Love's Truck Tire Care center; Chester's Chicken, Godfather's Pizza and IHOP Express restaurants; bean-to-cup coffee; 103 truck parking spaces; eight diesel bays; three RV parking spaces; seven showers; a CAT scale; and more.
Loop Neighborhood Market opened a new c-store in Temecula, Calif., on April 24, its second location in Southern California and 31st location overall. It offers healthy options such as smoothies, fresh sandwiches, organic fruits and vegetables, sushi, a wine bar, a frozen yogurt station, an espresso bar, and sweets and snacks. It also has a car wash and offers free Wi-Fi.
Net new stores: 2
Florida
Wawa opened a new c-store in Jacksonville, Fla., on April 16. To celebrate, area Wawas featured “The Dawk,” a hoagie named after NFL Football favorite and Jacksonville native Brian Dawkins, available for a limited time. Ingredients include a wheat roll, grilled chicken, parmesan cheese, spinach, tomato, pickles, sweet peppers and honey mustard. Proceeds up to $20,000 will benefit the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville.
Sandra Owsley, winner of 7-Eleven’s W.E. Take the Lead franchise giveaway contest, took over the formerly company-owned 7-Eleven c-store in Jacksonville, Fla., on April 20. W.E. Take the Lead was open exclusively to women entrepreneurs. Owsley went through an eight-month, multiphase contest that required her to submit a franchise application, meet the 7-Eleven franchising qualifications, go to preliminary interviews, submit a video, have a hands-on experience in-store and have a final one-on-one interview with 7‑Eleven leadership. She won a waiver for her franchise fee, valued at up to $190,000.
Net new stores: 1
Illinois
Foxtrot Market opened a new location in downtown Chicago on April 9.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new travel stop in Decatur, Ill., on April 18. The more than 10,000-square-foot facility includes a Love's Truck Tire Care center, Hardee’s restaurant, Fresh Kitchen Lite concept, bean-to-cup coffee, 51 truck parking spaces, seven diesel bays, five RV parking spaces, five showers, a CAT scale and more.
Buchanan Energy opened a new Bucky's c-store in Lombard, Ill., on April 20. It has a separate diesel fueling area for large trucks. It also features a Take 5 Pizza kitchen.
Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Peru, Ill., on April 26.
Net new stores: 4
Indiana
Iowa
Hansen’s Sinclair, a full-service gas station in Ames, Iowa, closed on April 6. The owner, Mark Hansen, has ended gasoline sales and is selling the property. He will continue the auto repair and oil change business elsewhere.
Casey’s General Stores opened new c-stores in Waverly, Iowa, on April 25 and Centerville, Iowa, on April 30.
Net new stores: 1
Kansas
Casey’s General Stores opened new c-stores in Galena, Kan., and Hugoton, Kan., on April 25.
Net new stores: 2
Minnesota
Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Pillager, Minn., on April 12.
Kwik Trip opened a new c-store in Byron, Minn., in mid-April.
Net new stores: 2
Missouri
Casey’s General Stores opened new c-stores in Troy, Mo., on April 18, and Oak Grove, Mo., on April 25.
Net new stores: 2
New Jersey
New York
Street Corner opened a new c-store in Utica, N.Y., on April 5.
Cumberland Farms opened a new 5,275-square-foot c-store in Malta, N.Y., on April 24. It has outdoor patio seating and eight fueling stations.
Net new stores: 2
Ohio
Casey’s General Stores opened new c-stores in Huber Heights, Ohio, on April 5 and Tipp City, Ohio, on April 26.
Net new stores: 2
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
West End Mart, a c-store in Allentown, Pa., opened in mid-April. It carries a variety of merchandise, including cigars and cigarettes, hookahs and hookah accessories, CBD oils and gummies, snacks, ice cream, cold drinks and household items such as air fresheners, duct tape, paper towels, sandwich bags and toiletries. It is adding lottery.
Sheetz closed a c-store in Erie, Pa., on April 30.
Net new stores: 0
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
QuikTrip opened a new c-store in Midlothian, Texas, on April 11.
Buc-ee’s opened a new travel center in Melissa, Texas, on April 29, its 36th location. It offers Texas Round Up barbecue, beef jerky, fudge and Beaver Nuggets.
Net new stores: 2
Washington
Pacific Chevron Food Mart opened in April in Olympia, Wash.
The Lummi Nation and Lummi Commercial Co, opened the Fisherman’s Cove c-store near the Lummi Island Ferry in Bellingham, Wash., on April 19.
On April 22, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe opened Cowlitz Crossing, a new gas station and c-store near the tribe’s Ilani casino resort on the Cowlitz reservation near Longview, Wash. In addition to the usual c-store fare, the store also features local products such as ice cream sandwiches from Ruby Jewel and coffee from Raindrop Roasters. It also has a nitro-brew coffee machine. The store will sell Ilani wine, a brand the casino created in partnership with Maryhill Winery, the first time it will be available in a bottle. Some of the main pumps can dispense ethanol-free gas for boats.
Net new stores: 3
West Virginia
BFS Cos. opened a new gas station and c-store, BFS Foods & Little Sandy’s Grill in Parsons, W.Va., on April 5.
Net new stores: 1
TOTAL NEW STORES FOR APRIL 2019: 31
TOTAL NEW STORES FOR 2019: 69
To be sure your locations are listed in upcoming roundups, please send new-store announcements to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@winsightmedia.com.