New Convenience-Store Roundup for February 2020
By Greg Lindenberg on Mar. 24, 2020CHICAGO — This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new c-store openings, closings and more that took place in February 2020.
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.
- 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. Many are part of CSP’s Top 202 list 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 …
Arkansas
Casey’s opened a new c-store Feb. 20 in Searcy, Ark.
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.
California
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new, 8,500-square-foot location in Madera, Calif., on Feb. 27. It features Chester’s Chicken, Godfather’s Pizza and Arby’s restaurants and the foodservice concept Fresh Kitchen; 95 truck parking spaces, 57 car parking spaces and four RV parking spaces; nine diesel bays; seven showers; laundry facilities; a Speedco truck service facility; bean-to-cup gourmet coffee; Mobile to Go Zone for electronics; CAT scale; and a dog park.
Net new stores: 1
Florida
Wawa opened a new c-store Feb. 6 in Ocala, Fla.
7-Eleven opened a new travel plaza at Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 13. It has Shell gasoline and features Built Custom Burgers, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill and cable TV and flight information displays. The company also opened a new c-store in Apopka, Fla., on Feb. 26.
Net new stores: 3
Illinois
Niemann Foods opened a new Haymakers c-store, gas station and car wash in Champaign, Ill., on Feb 21. It offers sushi, frozen yogurt, salads, heat-and-eat meals from Harvest Market, which Niemann Foods also owns.
Net new stores: 1
Indiana
Casey’s opened a new, 3,600-square-foot c-store Feb. 7 in Winchester, Ind. It has five fueling positions.
Net new stores: 1
Iowa
QuikTrip closed four c-stores in the Des Moines, Iowa, area in February. The stores are in Clive, Urbandale, Johnston and Windsor Heights. "We are constantly reviewing all the stores that we have in all markets, and there are some throughout the course of years that just no longer fit our model, our expectations," QuikTrip spokesperson Mike Thornbrugh said.
Net new stores: -4
Kansas
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new, 8,400-square-foot location in Topeka, Kan., on Feb. 13. It features Chester’s Chicken, Godfather’s Pizza and Subway restaurants and the foodservice concept Fresh Kitchen; 75 truck parking spaces, 46 car parking spaces and three RV parking spaces; six diesel bays; five showers; laundry facilities; bean-to-cup coffee; a Love’s Truck Care Center with Speedco; Mobile to Go Zone for electronics; and CAT scale.
Net new stores: 1
Maryland
Michigan
7-Eleven opened a new c-store in East Lansing, Mich., on Feb. 12. It is on the ground floor of The Hub, a Michigan State University housing complex.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new, 8,800-square-foot location in Milan, Mich., on Feb. 27. It features a Hardee’s restaurant and Fresh Kitchen foodservice concept; 93 truck parking spaces, 83 car parking spaces and three RV parking spaces; nine diesel bays; seven showers; laundry facilities; a Speedco truck service facility; bean-to-cup gourmet coffee; Mobile to Go Zone for electronics; CAT scale; and a dog park.
Net new stores: 2
Mississippi
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new, 8,000-square-foot location in Flowers, Miss., on Feb. 13. It features an Arby’s restaurant; parking spaces for 94 trucks and 70 cars and five RVs; eight diesel bays; eight showers; laundry facilities; a Love’s Truck Care Center with Speedco; Mobile to Go Zone for electronics; CAT scale; and a dog park.
Net new stores: 1
Missouri
New York
QuickChek opened a new, 6,750–square-foot store c-store in Bohemia, N.Y., on Feb. 4. The store features the chain’s Fresh to Go, with more than 50% of the store dedicated to fresh food and beverages. It has eight gas pumps with 16 fueling positions, as well as 53 parking spaces.
John’s Convenience Store closed in February after 27 years in Ithaca, N.Y. A developer has purchased the property, owners John and Simona Tadro said. They have “semi-retired.”
Net new stores: 0
Ohio
Morgan Oil opened a new mini-truckstop and c-store in Poland, Ohio, on Feb. 28. The new location is less than 20 feet from the Pennsylvania state line. It offers hot food, gyros and wings. It includes eight gasoline pumps in the front of the store and another bay of pumps along the side still under construction. The bay area will have diesel pumps and room for trucks to maneuver. “This is a strategic location not only for gas, but in Pennsylvania, tobacco is higher, milk is higher and there’s an advantage because I don’t have to compete,” owner Mike Kassem said.
Casey’s opened a new c-store in Covington, Ohio, on Feb. 28.
Net new stores: 2
Oklahoma
Casey’s opened new c-stores in Oklahoma City on Feb. 13 and Stilwell, Okla., on Feb. 20.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new, more than 5,000-square-foot location in Watonga, Okla., on Feb. 13. It features Chester’s Chicken and Subway restaurants; 50 truck parking spaces and 58 car parking spaces; four diesel bays; four showers; laundry facilities; a Love’s Truck Care Center; Mobile to Go Zone for electronics; and CAT scale.
OnCue opened a new c-store in Edmond, Okla., on Feb. 26.
Net new stores: 3
Oregon
Green Zebra Grocery opened a new health-focused c-store in Portland, Ore., on Feb. 12. It features the Kombucha Zlurpee, a vegan and real cheese nacho bar, a lunchroom and a self-serve latte machine. It will also offer beer, wine, fresh produce and more. “We have listened to our customers and optimized this store to include a stronger drip-coffee game, while also staying true to our mission of supplying the community with fresh foods and even more grab-and-go options," founder and CEO Lisa Sedlar said.
Net new stores: 1
Pennsylvania
Rutter’s opened a new, 10,300-square-foot c-store in Bellefonte, Pa., on Feb. 19. It also opened a new, 8,800-square-foot c-store in Lebanon, Pa., on Feb. 27. Both locations have 14 automobile fueling positions with regular, midgrade and premium gasoline; ethanol-free gasoline; flex fuel; unleaded 15; and auto diesel, as well as five dedicated truck diesel fueling lanes with diesel exhaust fluid. The company plans to add Rutter’s video gaming terminal rooms pending application review.
Net new stores: 2
South Carolina
South Dakota
Texas
QuikTrip opened new c-stores in Cedar Park, Texas, on Feb. 6; Elgin, Texas, on Feb. 13; and San Antonio and Irving, Texas, on Feb. 20.
Pilot Co. opened a new Pilot Travel Center in Pyote, Texas, on Feb. 19. It offers 12 gasoline fueling positions and seven diesel lanes, 70 truck parking spots, five showers, a public seating area, laundry and more.
Net new stores: 5
Virginia
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new, 8,000-square-foot location in Greenville, Va., on Feb. 13. It features Chester’s Chicken and McDonald’s restaurants and the foodservice concept Fresh Kitchen; parking space for 85 trucks, 84 cars and five RVs; eight diesel bays; seven showers; laundry facilities; a Love’s Truck Care Center; Mobile to Go Zone for electronics; and CAT scale.
Net new stores: 1
Wisconsin
Casey’s opened a new c-store in Caledonia, Wis., on Feb. 20.
Net new stores: 1
NEW STORES OPENED IN FEBRUARY 2020: 32
STORES CLOSED IN FEBRUARY 2020: 5
NET NEW STORES FOR FEBRUARY 2020: 27
TOTAL NET NEW STORES FOR 2020: 49
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.