New Convenience-Store Roundup for August 2021

CHICAGO — This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new-to-industry (NTI) c-store openings and closings that took place in August 2021.

Illinois, Kansas and New York tied for the top slot in the monthly state-by-state count.

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. c-stores, gas stations, truckstops and travel centers.

• 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 mergers-and-acquisitions activity.

Many of the stores listed here are owned by independent operators, while others belong to major chains. Some are part of CSP’s Top 202 ranking of c-store chains by size. Some of the owners and operators are new entrepreneurs, and some are industry veterans.

Unless otherwise noted, these NTI 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 …

On Aug. 4, Delta Sonic opened a new c-store and car wash in Oswego, Ill.

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Elk Grove Village, Ill., on Aug. 19. It has five diesel bays, 17 truck parking spaces, 33 car parking spaces and three RV parking spaces. The more than 8,000-square-foot store features a Chester’s Chicken and Godfather’s Pizza restaurants; the retailer’s Fresh Kitchen concept; and bean-to-cup coffee; and a Mobile to Go Zone for electronics and accessories. It also has four showers, laundry facilities and a CAT scale.

Net new stores*: 2

*Represents new-to-industry 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. The roundup does not include raze-and-rebuild or replacement stores.

Speedway opened a new gas station in Evansville, Ind., in late August.

Net new stores: 1

TravelCenters of America opened a new TA Express travel center in Edgerton, Kansas, off Interstate 35, at exit 205, on Aug. 18. The site offers 16 gasoline fueling positions and six diesel fueling positions with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) on all lanes. It has 90 truck parking spaces and 40 car parking spaces. The 9,00-square-foot store features a Dunkin’ Express and an on-site deli with hot and cold food options. It also has four showers, a driver lounge, laundry facilities and a CAT scale.

EG Group’s EG America opened a new Kwik Shop on Aug. 31 in Park City, Kansas. The brand-new, more than 8,100-square-foot location features a c-store showcasing the company’s latest design, equipment and menu along with a Burger King and newly designed Cinnabon. The site, with 45 parking spots, offers 10 fueling stations across five islands. The Cinnabon bakeshop and coffee bar features a new design and expanded menu offering signature and differentiated Cinnabon products including cinnamon rolls and cold brew beverages. New features and menu items include breakfast sandwiches, a Cinnabon Cafe coffee bar with drip, bean to cup and cappuccino and a grab-and-go bakery case with cookies, muffins and doughnuts.

Net new stores: 2

A Dairy Mart c-store in Lexington, Ky.—the city’s last after Alimentation Couche-Tardacquired the chain in 2002—closed on Aug. 28 because the owner lost his lease. The store, which opened in 1975, was the top-selling lottery site in Lexington and among the top in the state.

Jeff and Melissa Parrish opened the New Hope Country Store in New Hope, Ky., in late August. The location also offers fuel.

Net new stores: 0

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Monroe, La., off Interstate 20 on Aug. 19. It has eight diesel bays, 90 truck parking spaces, 73 car parking spaces and three RV parking spaces. The more than 13,000-square-foot store features a Chester’s Chicken, Godfather’s Pizza and Subway restaurants; the retailer’s Fresh Kitchen concept; and bean-to-cup coffee; and a Mobile to Go Zone for electronics and accessories. It also has seven showers, laundry facilities, a Speedco facility, CAT scale and a dog park.

Net new stores: 1

A new Cumberland Farms c-store opened on Aug. 5 in Falls River, Mass. It is the eighth store of the chain owned by EG Group’s EG America to incorporate the brand’s Farmhouse Fresh To Go “store-within-a-store” concept. The stores have onsite kitchens that make sandwiches and wraps to order and that make rectangular deep-dish pizzas, muffins and croissants from scratch. Kitchen workers also cook thinner, round pizzas and British-style meat and vegetable pasties prepared at the Cumberland Farms commissary in Westborough, Mass. The site is also the fifth of the chain to have a car wash. The AutoSpa, which is attached to the c-store building, has a touchless wash bay and a second “soft-touch” bay. Packages range from $9 to $19.

Net new stores: 1

Fuelco opened a new Foodsmart c-store opened on Aug. 17 in Yonkers, N.Y.

Mirabito opened a new c-store in Syracuse, N.Y., on Aug. 18.

Net new stores: 2

Sheetz opened its sixth c-store in the Columbus area, in Hilliard, Ohio, on Aug. 3.

Net new stores: 1

NEW STORES OPENED IN AUGUST 2021: 11

STORES CLOSED IN AUGUST 2021: 1

NET NEW STORES IN AUGUST 2021: 10

TOTAL NET NEW STORES IN 2021: 165

To be sure your locations are listed in upcoming roundups, please send new-store announcements and other news to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@winsightmedia.com.