OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. -- This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new convenience-store openings, sales and store closings for the month of December 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, while others are 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.
Alabama
Mapco held the grand opening of a convenience store in Huntsville, Ala., on Dec. 23.
California
New 7-Eleven franchisees Alan Paulson Sr. and Alan Paulson Jr. opened a new convenience store in Buena Park, Calif., on Dec. 23.
Wawa opened a new convenience store in New Castle, Del., on Dec. 4.
Florida
A pair of Doral investors purchased a Shell-branded gas station near West Miami, Fla., for $6.4 million in early December. Mabor Realty & Finance Co., managed by Maurice and Adriana Borysowski, had purchased the station, built in 1990, for $3.775 million in Dec. 2006. The buyer is Corocito, a limited liability company that lists Jose and Teresita Marante as its managing members.
A Chevron gas station in Manatee, Fla., at the entrance to the bridge to Anna Maria Island, was demolished in mid-December. The station was owned by J.H. Williams Oil Co. Inc., which will build a new, larger station on the site.
A Circle K in the Mills 50 community in Orlando, Fla, closed on Dec. 17 and will be demolished in early 2016.
7-Eleven franchisees Ihab Issa opened a new convenience store in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Dec. 23. Separately, franchisee Gabe Diaz opened a new 7-Eleven c-store in Miami, also on Dec. 23.
On Dec. 17, Wawa opened new convenience stores in Brooksville, Altamonte Springs and Orlando, Fla.
Idaho
A Stinker Stores gas station and convenience store in Boise, Idaho, closed in early December after the company determined it did not get enough business. It is looking for a buyer.
Illinois
Micoley.com held an auction on Dec. 2 to sell an operational Shell gas station and convenience store in Countryside, Ill. The property was listed at $895,000
Marcus & Millichap brokered the sale of a 7-Eleven in Lincoln Park in Chicago in early December. The 4,788-square-foot property sold for $1.4 million. The seller, a private investor, and the buyer were not disclosed.
Indiana
Ricker’s convenience stores opened a new flagship location in Sheridan, Ind., on Dec. 15. It also opened a new flagship c-store in Westfield, Ind., on Dec. 22. They offer fresh “bean-to-cup” gourmet coffee, cappuccino, iced coffee and frappés along with several different flavor syrups and creamers. All machines employ reverse-osmosis water filtration. The stores have a selection of wine. They also carry its own brand of frozen yogurt. Ricker’s provides Lucas Oil additives in its premium and diesel fuels. It also has tax-exempt diesel islands. The stores offer ethanol-free premium with Lucas Oil fuel treatment.
Kentucky
Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores’ ninth Kentucky location opened its doors for business in Sadieville on Dec. 10. The 24-hour, 10,000-square-foot facility has a Hardee’s restaurant, gourmet coffee, fresh fruit, merchandise, name-brand electronics and more. Professional drivers can take advantage of seven showers, 82 truck-parking spaces and a Love’s Truck Tire Care center.
Maine
Cumberland Farms held the grand opening of its new convenience store, in Eliot, Maine, on Dec. 16. The 4,738-square-foot store has high-top bar counters with seating, three outdoor patio seats with umbrellas, 20 parking spaces, and four gasoline dispensers with diesel.
Maryland
A Wawa convenience store in Crownsville, Md., closed on Dec. 9.
Michigan
The Ojibwa Express gas station in Marquette, Mich., held a grand opening on Dec. 2. It is owned by Aanikoosing Inc., a corporation of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.
Alternative fuels provider NUVU Fuels held the grand opening of a new convenience store in Ionia, Mich., on Dec. 4.
Minnesota
Kwik Trip opened a new convenience store in Moose Lake, Minn., on Dec. 3
SuperAmerica opened a new convenience store in Woodbury, Minn., on Dec. 4
New Jersey
QuickChek opened a new, 5,496-square-foot convenience store in Lakewood, N.J., on Dec. 1. Located across from FirstEnergy Park, home of the Lakewood BlueClaws, and the Lakewood Industrial Park, the store will be open 24 hours a day and features a Q Café, which offers nearly 60 varieties of handcrafted drinks including macchiato, fresh brewed cappuccinos, lattes and espressos, blended-to-order fruit smoothies and frozen treats. Additional amenities include no-fee ATMs, indoor seating for 13 people and outdoor seating for eight, eight gasoline pumps and 55 parking spaces.
Wawa opened a new convenience store in Barrington, N.J., on Dec. 4
New Mexico
Love’s Travel Stops opened a new location in Albuquerque, N.M., on Dec. 3. It offers compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling.
New York
Stewart’s Shops opened a new convenience store in Johnstown, N.Y., on Dec. 2. Along with milk, coffee and ice cream, the store has expanded its Easy Food options to include freshly made pizza and subs and added a beer cave. The more-than-3,000-square-foot shop features two bathrooms, LED lighting, a large gas island with eight fueling points and the availability of diesel and kerosene. This location also provides a significant increase in parking spaces and all new landscaping. This new shop replaces the former location across the street, which has now closed. The company also opened a new c-store in Bennington, N.Y., on Dec. 9, on the site of the former Betty Beaver's Fuel Stop. It replaces a smaller, existing Stewart’s Shop nearby. It expanded the fuel service to include premium non-ethanol gas.
On Dec. 17, NOCO Express completed the renovations at its convenience store in Kenmore, N.Y. The three-week interior and exterior remodel provides an updated look and expanded fresh product selection. When entering the newly remodeled store, customers will notice better visibility of products displayed throughout the store with the addition of new shelving and deli case for fresh foods. Freshly prepared and pre-packaged sandwiches, salads, wraps and snack packs from Nickel City Foods are available throughout the day. New wall graphics installed throughout the store provide an overall updated look. Outside, the gasoline canopy and exterior of the store also received a refresh.
North Carolina
Handy Mart held the grand opening on Dec. 4 of a new convenience store in Jacksonville, N.C.
North Dakota
Kum & Go opened a new 5,000-square-foot convenience store in Williston, N.D., on Dec. 17 offering 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 high-quality gasoline, truck diesel and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). This store also features a new truck-washing station.
Ohio
Turkey Hill Minit Markets opened a new convenience store in New Albany, Ohio, on Dec. 11. With 24x7 service, it provides 10 gasoline dispensers with 20 pumps and a car wash. The 4,800-square-foot store includes grocery, a beer cave and a deli serving Built Your Way sandwiches, pizza and other menu items. The store’s beverage and frozen product lines include coffee, brewed with Soft-Heat for better freshness and flavor, as well as cappuccinos, refreshing ice-cold pop and Slusheys and Turkey Hill ice cream, iced teas and drinks.
Thorntons held the grand opening of a new convenience store in Springdale, Ohio, on Dec. 18.
Holzberger Convenience Store in Hamilton, Ohio, closed on Dec. 30.
Oklahoma
Love’s Travel Stops opened a new location on Dec. 3 in Valliant, Okla. The new store offers gourmet coffee, fresh fruit, gift items, name-brand electronics, a Subway restaurant and more. The 24/7 travel stop features two showers, 64 parking spaces, RFID cardless fueling and CAT scales. Love’s also opened a new location in Guthrie, Okla., on Dec. 10. The 24-hour, 10,000-square-foot facility features a Carl’s Jr. with Green Burrito restaurant, gourmet coffee, fresh fruit, gift merchandise, name-brand electronics and more. Professional drivers can take advantage of seven showers, 106 truck-parking spaces and a Love’s Truck Tire Care center, with planned compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling. And on Dec. 17, Love’s held the ribbon cutting for a new location in Union City, Okla.
Rhode Island
Shine365 Auto Wash opened a new car wash, gas station and convenience store in Kingstown R.I., on Dec. 4.
South Carolina
Parker’s opened a new convenience store in Hardeeville, S.C., on Dec. 16. It features a hot deli serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Highlights include a full breakfast bar as well as Southern fried chicken tenders, mac 'n' cheese and more. Parker’s also opened a new c-store on Dec. 24 in Bluffton, S.C. Both stores sell the chain’s signature Chewy Ice, fountain drinks, fresh-brewed tea and lemonade, gourmet coffee, locally grown fresh-cut fruit, salads, 28-degree beer, vape products, cell phone accessories and more.
Tennessee
The Quick Fuel gas station in Memphis celebrated a grand-reopening in mid-December, giving away free barbecue sandwiches, brats and soda pop in Quick Fuel koozies. The new-and-improved gas stop is being described as America’s first fully automated convenience store with a robotic self-cleaning bathroom that locks and cleans itself from top to bottom after every use.
Texas
Stripes opened new convenience stores in Texas in College Station on Dec. 3 (with 12 Sunoco-branded fuel dispensers); Temple on Dec. 14 (with 20 Sunoco-branded fuel dispensers); Brownsville on Dec. 14 (with 20 Valero-branded fuel dispensers); Conroe on Dec. 28 (with 12 Sunoco-branded fuel dispensers); and Port Arthur on Dec. 28 (with 20 Valero-branded fuel dispensers). All of the stores feature Laredo Taco Company and “beer super coolers.”
CST Brands opened a new Corner Store in San Antonio on Dec. 30.
Utah
Maverik held the grand opening for a new convenience store in Vineyard, Utah, on Dec. 26.
Virginia
New 7-Eleven franchisees Muhammad Huzaif Syed opened a new convenience store in Fredericksburg, Va., on Dec. 23.
Wawa opened new convenience stores in Chantilly, Hampton and Suffolk, Va., on Dec. 18.
Wisconsin
Love’s Travel Stops opened a new locations in Menomonie, Wis., on Dec. 1
Kwik Trip opened new convenience stores in Milton, Wis., on Dec. 10 and Pleasant Prairie, Wis., on Dec. 14.
A CITGO in Oshkosh, Wis., changed hands in mid-December. Peter Lang, co-owner of Blue Moose Stores, sold the gas station and convenience store to Nirav Patel, who owns another gas station in Neenah. Blue Moose still will own and operate four convenience stores across Oshkosh.
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