New Convenience-Store Roundup for January 2017
By Greg Lindenberg on Feb. 13, 2017CHICAGO -- This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new convenience-store openings, closings, rebrandings and stores under new ownership for the month of January 2017.
The unscientifically gathered roundup—gleaned from company announcements, websites, 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.
Many of the stores are owned by independent operators, while others belong to major chains, some part of CSP’s Top 202. Some represent new entrepreneurs, while others are longtime business owners exiting the industry.
Please send your new-store announcements to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@winsightmedia.com.
Click through for a state-by-state breakdown. …
Florida
An investor paid $8 million in early January for a corner gas station in Miami. Records show City Block Properties LLC spent $378 per square foot for the 21,158-square-foot corner lot near Brickell City Centre. The seller is Five Group Corp. The nearly half-acre property is currently a Chevron gas station.
A 7-Eleven convenience store, Mobil gas station and Dunkin’ Donuts officially opened Jan. 13 in Florida next to Palm Beach International Airport. Petroleum Marketing Group said the facility, which includes an arrivals and departure board and phone charging stations inside the 7-Eleven, represents an airport-related niche market for the company, which has similar facilities in Fort Myers, Fla., Cleveland and Indianapolis. Others are on the way in Chicago, Orlando and Houston.
Creighton Commercial Development and Construction completed nine 7-Eleven locations in Florida in January in north Fort Myers, Miami (2), Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg (2), West Palm Beach (2) and Zephyrhills (above).
Net new stores*: 10
* Represents stores opened minus stores closed in this state for the month; does not include new ownership or rebranding; also does not include any stores previously reported in CSP Daily News. Other stores not captured by this count may have opened in the state.
Illinois
Casey’s General Stores opened new c-stores in Crystal Lake, Ill., and Le Roy, Ill., in January.
Net new stores: 2
Iowa
Kansas
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new travel stop in Cunningham, Kan., on Jan. 26. The 5,000-square-foot facility includes a Subway restaurant.
Net new stores: 1
Louisiana
Sunoco opened a new Stripes c-store with a Laredo Taco Company restaurant in Lake Charles, La., on Jan. 19 and in Lafayette, La., on Jan. 20.
Net new stores: 1
Michigan
In December 2014, 23 years after sisters Kim Miller and Debbie Helmlinger started managing the 145 Truck Stop in Leoni Township, Mich., an electrical fire destroyed the business. Restaurant operations reopened across the street a year after the fire. On Jan. 9, the 145 Truck Stop officially reopened. In conjunction with Corrigan Oil and Express Stop, the location features a Marathon gas station, diesel fuel, showers, an ATM, a garage for semitrailer repair, a c-store, beer cave and more. It is adding Broaster Chicken and Little Caesars Pizza. Sandwiches and salads from the 145 Family Restaurant will also be available at the 145 Express Stop. The c-store is open 24 hours a day.
Net new stores: 1
Minnesota
Cottonwood Co-op Oil Co. held the grand opening Jan. 19 of a new Cenex c-store in Cottonwood, Minn. It features Hot Stuff pizza, Smash Hit subs and Chester’s Chicken.
Germann's Hammond Spur, a Calumet-brand gas station in Superior, Minn., known as the "Chicken Spur" for its fast-food deals, closed Jan. 27. The store had recently adjusted its hours and prices to compete with the new Kwik Trip that opened down the street.
Net new stores: 0
Missouri
Nebraska
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Syracuse, Neb. (above), on Jan. 12. The 11,000-square-foot travel stop includes a Hardee’s restaurant.
Casey’s General Stores opened a c-store in Plattsmouth, Neb., on Jan. 20. The store is 4,300 square feet, almost double the size of a nearby Casey's store. It has six gas pumps instead of three and more parking. The new store has two tables for customers. It also opened two other new c-stores, one in St. Paul, Neb., and one in Lincoln, Neb.
U-Stop Market opened a new c-store in in Hickman, Neb., in late January.
Net new stores: 5
New Jersey
After being closed for more than 10 years, Duke’s Deli in Westfield, N.J., reopened in January under new owners Asad and Sofia Hussain as Duke's Deli & Convenience. The new menu includes homemade Indian and Pakistani specialties such as chicken tikka masala, samosas, kabobs and biryani as well as sandwiches, salads, falafel, empanadas and breakfast sandwiches. Coffee, slushes and ice cream are available. Customers can pick up convenience items including groceries, lottery tickets, tobacco and household items.
Net new stores: 1
New York
In early January, Le Roy Express took over an adjacent service station in Le Roy, N.Y. Brad Lamie and Kyle Palmer, co-owners of the recently opened Le Roy Express, had been interested in getting into the gas station business. When the station became available, they bought it. The current services--gas, diesel, kerosene, propane, touch-free wash and two self-services wash—are staying the same.
On Jan. 6, Stewart’s Shops opened new c-stores in Middleburgh, N.Y. (above), Broadalbin, N.Y. and Sherburne, N.Y. It also opened new c-stores in Malta, N.Y., on Jan. 12 and Schenectady, N.Y., on Jan 13.
The Bay Village Mini Mart in Bayside, N.Y., closed Jan. 22.
Cumberland Farms opened a new c-store in South Glen Falls, N.Y., on Jan. 26.
Net new stores: 5
Grand Opening Broadalbin from Stewart's Shops Corp on Vimeo.
Ohio
The new owner of the Convenient Food Mart in Steubenville, Ohio, has created a new look for the store, which opened in January. It added Sunoco gas pumps and will renovate the exterior and pave the parking lot. Lucy Spence said her brother-in-law, Greg DeSantis, owns the Convenient franchise in the area. The hot bar offers homemade food and made-to-order sandwiches. The deli has "chip-chop" ham and prosciutto and a selection of cheeses. “We cut our own meat and grind it every day for meatballs and sausage. Everything is fresh. Our sauce is made by my Aunt Phil. She handles all of the sauces and our wedding soup. My cousin, Tommy, makes our sausage and handles our butcher work,” Spence said. “We have also added a beautiful wine section and we have great baked goods for sale.”
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Springfield, Ohio, on Jan. 26. The 12,000-square-foot travel stop includes Subway and Wendy’s restaurants.
Net new stores: 1
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Turkey Hill Minit Markets has opened a c-store in a shopping center in Buck, Pa., replacing an older Turkey Hill just up the road that has closed. The new store has Turkey Hill’s updated format and features touch-screen food ordering for a menu of pizza, sandwiches, subs, salads and appetizers. The 4,500-square-foot store, with 16 fueling stations, is open 24 hours daily.
Net new stores: 0
Texas
Sunoco opened a new Stripes c-store with a Laredo Taco Company restaurant in San Marcos, Texas, on Jan. 4, and two in San Antonio on Jan. 23 and Jan. 24.
Brookshire Brothers opened a Brookshire Brothers Express on Jan. 11 in Hudson, Texas. It features fresh meat and produce, a hot deli with daily specials, Western Union, money orders and a full-service courtesy booth.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new travel stop in Angleton, Texas, on Jan. 12. The 10,000-square foot location features a Carl’s Jr. restaurant. Love’s also opened a new location in Hereford, Texas, on Jan. 26. The 6,000-square-foot travel stop includes a Carl’s Jr. restaurant.
The Vitorino Group in mid-January arranged the sale of two c-stores in Frisco, Texas. A New York-based fund acquired the properties for undisclosed price as part of a 1031 exchange. The 3,001-square-foot and 2,960-square-foot properties are absolute net-leased to 7-Eleven with four years remaining on both 18-year leases. The Vitorino Group represented the undisclosed seller in the deal.
Net new stores: 6
South Carolina
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Cayce, S.C., on Jan. 11. The facility includes McDonald’s and Chester’s restaurants.
Net new stores: 1
Washington, D.C.
Despite a developer’s plans being postponed, a Sunoco gas station in Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., closed in early January. The station, a limestone structure built in 1936, is a landmark known as the Embassy Gulf Service Station. The plan had called for residential units in a new high-rise building that would also contain 3,000 square feet of retail. To fit the project on the site, the developer had offered to reorient the historic structure. The plans did not include a gas station. Petroleum Marketing Group said the site closed as a gas station "as a result of a normal lease expiration." PMG is responsible for clearing the site of gas-pumping equipment and underground storage tanks. The station's canopies and Sunoco pumps have been removed.
Sunoco and Washington Dulles International Airport held the grand opening Jan. 12 for the airport’s new three-acre fuel, food and c-store complex (above). The new on-airport gas station and c-store includes 28 fueling positions, with auto diesel at every pump, while the 8,600-square-foot APlus c-store features Laredo Taco Company and Subway restaurants. Customers inside can check flights on live monitors, charge devices with USB power and use free Wi-Fi.
Net new stores: 1
Wisconsin
Effective Jan. 1, Kevin Harlfinger took over as owner of Harlfinger’s Inc. Service Center, a historic Phillips 66 service station in Waukesha, Wis. He took over from his father, John, who took control of the business in 1968 from his father, Leo. The business features an auto repair shop, gas pumps, free air and a c-store.
A BP gas station in Delafield, Wis., closed Jan. 7.
Net new stores: -1
TOTAL NEW STORES FOR JANUARY 2017: 38
TOTAL NEW STORES FOR 2017: 38