New Convenience-Store Roundup for December 2020
By Greg Lindenberg on Jan. 04, 2021CHICAGO — This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new-to-industry c-store openings and closings that took place in December 2020.
While c-stores, as officially designated essential businesses, have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic, the uncertainly surrounding the global health crisis led to a pause on store expansion earlier this year. But the pace of new-store openings as captured by CSP's ongoing count continues to show signs of recovery from the economic slowdown.
Texas and Illinois continue to be hot spots of new-store growth, as they have throughout much of the year, according to CSP’s monthly tally. Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey's General Stores and Oklahoma City-based Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores led the way, opening 12 and five locations, respectively, in December.
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 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 …
Florida
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Baldwin, Fla., on Dec. 10. The site features nine diesel bays and 94 truck, 76 car and four RV parking spaces. The more than 16,000-square foot, 24/7 facility features Godfather’s Pizza and Bojangles quick-service restaurants (QSR), Fresh Kitchen proprietary foodservice concept and bean-to-cup coffee; nine showers; laundry facilities; and Mobile to Go Zone for electronics. It also features a Speedco facility, CAT scale and a dog park.
A 7-Eleven c-store with a Laredo Taco Company opened on Dec. 18 in Palmetto, Fla.
Cumberland Farms opened a new, 5,625-square-foot c-store in Titusville, Fla., on Dec. 23. It has 28 customer parking spaces, 16 fueling stations and curbside pickup.
Net new stores*: 3
*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.
Georgia
Idaho
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Bliss, Idaho, on Dec. 17. The site features nine diesel bays and 115 truck, 88 car and 10 RV parking spaces. The more than 21,000-square foot, 24/7 facility features McDonald’s and Subway quick-service restaurants (QSR), Fresh Kitchen proprietary foodservice concept and bean-to-cup coffee; nine showers; laundry facilities; and Mobile to Go Zone for electronics. It also features a Speedco facility.
Net new stores: 1
Illinois
Trio Convenience opened a new c-store in Chicago on Dec. 8.
A Marathon gas station in Des Plaines, Ill., closed on Dec. 11.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Rockford, Ill., on Dec. 17. The site features six diesel bays and 88 truck, 68 car and five RV parking spaces. The more than 12,000-square foot, 24/7 facility features a Hardee’s quick-service restaurant (QSR), Fresh Kitchen proprietary foodservice concept and bean-to-cup coffee; five showers; laundry facilities; and Mobile to Go Zone for electronics. It also features a CAT scale and a dog park. Love’s also opened a new location in Olney, Ill., on Dec. 17. The site features five diesel bays and 39 truck and 37 car parking spaces. The more than 12,000-square foot, 24/7 facility features an Arby’s QSR, Fresh Kitchen proprietary foodservice concept and bean-to-cup coffee; six showers; laundry facilities; and Mobile to Go Zone for electronics. It also features a CAT scale and a dog park.
Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Lexington, Ill., on Dec. 18.
Thorntons opened a new c-store on Huntley, Ill., on Dec. 22. The 4,400-square-foot facility is set on two acres and features 20 auto fueling positions and self-checkout.
Grandt's Shell service station in Arlington Heights, Ill., closed on Dec. 31. The station, which dates back to 1928, was known for the rocket that sat atop the fuel island canopy, built from two 30-gallon oil drums in the 1960s as a tribute to the U.S.-Soviet space race and Shell's premium gasoline, nicknamed “rocket fuel.”
Net new stores: 3
Indiana
Iowa
Kum & Go opened a new store in the Campustown business district in Ames, Iowa, on Dec. 10, its third walkup location without fuel.
Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Manning, Iowa, on Dec. 17.
Net new stores: 2
Kansas
Minnesota
Kwik Trip opened a new c-store in Carver, Minn., on Dec. 17.
Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Alexandria, Minn., on Dec. 17.
Net new stores: 2
Missouri
QuikTrip opened a new c-store in December in St. Peters, Mo.
Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Belton, Mo., on Dec. 17.
Net new stores: 2
Nebraska
Casey’s General Stores opened new c-stores in La Vista, Neb., on Dec. 10, and in Eagle, Neb., on Dec. 17.
Net new stores: 2
New Jersey
Wawa opened its first drive-thru c-store on Dec. 18 in Westampton, N.J. The store has a traditional, full-service format with fuel, equipped with a two-lane drive-thru. The store also features separate order points with digital menu boards including a QR scan menu option and one point of pay and pickup window. With operating hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the service can accommodate 19 cars in line for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Customers can order new bundled offers or combos.
Net new stores: 1
New Mexico
Ohio
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Napoleon, Ohio, on Dec. 17. The site feature nine diesel bays and 80 truck, 85 car and four RV parking spaces. The more than 12,000-square foot, 24/7 facility features 80 truck, 85 car and four RV parking spaces; nine diesel bays; an Arby’s quick-service restaurant (QSR), Fresh Kitchen proprietary foodservice concept and bean-to-cup coffee; six showers; laundry facilities; and Mobile to Go Zone for electronics. It also features a CAT scale and a dog park.
Casey’s General Stores opened new c-stores in Versailles, Ohio on Dec. 11, and in Amelia, Ohio, on Dec. 18.
Net new stores: 3
Oklahoma
Kum & Go opened a new c-store in Owasso, Okla., in early December.
OnCue opened a new c-store in Norman, Okla., on Dec. 17.
Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Piedmont, Okla., on Dec. 17.
Net new stores: 3
South Carolina
QuikTrip opened a new c-store in Blythewood, S.C., on Dec. 3.
7-Eleven opened a new, 3,484-square-foot c-store in Fort Mill, S.C., on Dec. 4. It has 26 fuel pumps and 24 parking spaces.
Net new stores: 2
South Dakota
Texas
CEFCO opened a new c-store in Mount Enterprise, Texas, in early December, its second ground-up build in 2020. The five-acre site features eight multi-pump dispensers, which include ethanol-free fuel and five truck diesel lanes as well as 32 truck parking spaces. The 7,689-square-foot store features Fresh Yo self-service frozen yogurt and a CEFCO Kitchen. Open 24 hours a day, it also has a lounge and a shower. The site also has a dog park.
OnCue opened a new Phillips 66 gas station and c-store in Houston on Dec. 9. The three-acre property has 12 dispensers with 24 fueling spots offering seven grades of fuel, including non-ethanol premium, E-85, E-15 and diesel. The canopy connects the fuel island to the store offering customers protection from Houston’s unpredictable storms. All the pumps have 2-lb nozzles that are easy to operate and are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. The 9,300-square-foot store features foodservice from The Grill. Customers can order via touchscreen kiosk or pre-order online. A gourmet coffee bar offers 12 blends of bean-to-cup coffee, espresso, frozen Nitro coffee and classic drip. The store also has a beer cave and a wine selection.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Amarillo, Texas, on Dec. 10. The site features seven diesel bays and 100 truck, 96 car and four RV parking spaces. The more than 21,000-square foot, 24/7 facility features Godfather’s Pizza and Subway quick-service restaurants (QSR), Fresh Kitchen proprietary foodservice concept and bean-to-cup coffee; five showers; laundry facilities; and Mobile to Go Zone for electronics. It also features a CAT scale and a dog park.
Murphy USA opened its 1,500th location, a new-to-industry (NTI) site in Mesquite, Texas, on Dec. 15. The 2,800-square-foot Murphy Express is open 24 hours, features a variety of beverage and snack options, including a beer cave, 20 fountain beverage options, four bean-to-cup coffee stations, hot and cold food items and other merchandise, along with 16 fueling positions offering diesel and E85 in addition to three grades of gasoline.
QuikTrip opened three new c-stores in December, two in San Antonio (one on Dec. 3) and one in Seguin, Texas.
Net new stores: 5
Virginia
A 7-Eleven c-store in Richmond, Va., closed its doors on Dec. 21.
Net new stores: -1
NEW STORES OPENED IN DECEMBER 2020: 35
STORES CLOSED IN DECEMBER 2020: 3
NET NEW STORES IN DECEMBER 2020: 32
TOTAL NET NEW STORES FOR 2020: 275
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.