New Convenience-Store Roundup for January 2018
New Convenience-Store Roundup for January 2018
By Greg Lindenberg on Feb. 04, 2018CHICAGO -- This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new c-store openings, closings and more for the month of January 2018.
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 not previously reported in CSP Daily News.
- Click here for new c-store roundups from previous months, along with other grand-opening and new-store coverage. Click here for other M&A activity in January 2018.
Many of the stores listed here are owned by independent operators, while others belong to major chains. And many (listed in bold) are part of CSP’s Top 202 list of the largest chains in the industry. Some represent new entrepreneurs and some are industry veterans, while others are longtime business owners exiting the industry.
- Click here to view the Top 202 C-Store Chains for 2017. And click here for an updated year-end ranking.
Unless otherwise noted, the new locations offer the food, snacks, beverages, tobacco, merchandise, services and amenities found in most c-stores. Most offer gasoline.
Click through for a state-by-state breakdown …
Arkansas
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new travel stop in Alma, Ark., on Jan. 18. It offers a Love’s Truck Tire Care center, 55 truck parking spaces, three showers, laundry and other driver services. It also has Chester’s Chicken and Subway restaurants.
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
Loop Neighborhood opened a new c-store in Mountain View, Calif., in early January. The store features smoothies, organic fruits, and veggies, sushi and a wine boutique, as well as go-to snacks and treats. It also opened a new c-store, its first in Southern California, in Norco in late January.
- Check out Loop CEO Varish Goyal, one of the convenience-store industry Change Makers featured in the cover story in the February issue of CSP magazine.
The Tachi-Yokut tribe opened Yokut Gas in Lemoore, Calif., on Jan. 12. It includes 16 gas and diesel pumps, two racing-fuel pumps, two electric-vehicle charging stations, a 3,000-square-foot c-store and 24 slot machines.
The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California opened the Chukchansi Crossing Fuel Station & Travel Center in late January across from the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold, Calif. The station features 18 pumps, two pumps in the back for motor homes and trucks, two electric charging stations and a smoke shop. Plans include a car wash, a Peet’s Coffee stand and a burger restaurant.
Net new stores: 4
Colorado
Pilot Flying J opened a Pilot Travel Center in Lamar, Colo., in mid-January. It has 10 gasoline fueling positions and six diesel lanes, a PJ Fresh Marketplace and a Dunkin’ Donuts.
Kum & Go opened a new, 6,200-square-foot store c-store in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Jan. 25.
Net new stores: 2
Florida
Gate Petroleum opened new c-stores in Brooklyn, Fla., and Jacksonville, Fla., on Jan. 5.
Vishal Nanda opened Rainey's, a Shell gas station and c-store, in Pensacola, Fla., in mid-January. Before he bought the property in 2016, it was the site of another longstanding gas station that had fallen into disrepair and become an eyesore in the neighborhood. He demolished the old property and rebuilt a new store and business.
Net new stores: 2
Idaho
Quackers Convenience Corner opened Jan. 28 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It offers restaurant and deli items, to-go options, in-house seating, tap beer, wine and c-store items. Seating is at tables and the bar with TV available. Options include breakfast items (with duck and chicken eggs), sandwiches, single-serve pizza, salads, Norwegian flatbreads, fountain drinks and specialty coffees.
Net new stores: 1
Illinois
Thorntons executives, village officials and community leaders cut the ribbon on a new gas station and c-store in Bellwood, Ill., during a Jan. 12 ceremony. The station, with 20 pumps, opened Jan. 11.
Net new stores: 1
Maryland
Carroll Independent Fuels’ High’s Dairy Stores opened a new c-store Jan. 11 in Towson, Md. The store, a former three-bay service station, was remodeled into a c-store and six-pump gas station.
Net new stores: 1
Minnesota
The Cenex Expressway c-store and gas station in North Mankato, Minn., closed in January after six years. Expressway bought the former Happy Dan's in 2012 and did extensive renovation before reopening it. Dan Ortman of Expressway said the market has a lot of competition, and the location was not like most of the other 15 stores they operate. "In most of the communities, we're right on the main drag of town," he said. "Here we weren't on the highway.”
Net new stores: -1
Nebraska
North Carolina
The Shop ‘N Bag c-store and gas station, which originally opened in 1945, reopened Jan. 1 under new management after being closed for about two years. Ed Haggerty and his wife, Donna, leased the Newport, N.C., store.
Sheetz opened a new c-store in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Jan. 4.
Net new stores: 2
Ohio
United Dairy Farmers opened a new UDF c-store in Cincinnati on Jan. 17. The company also closed a c-store and gas station in Mount Vernon, Ohio, on Jan. 21.
Net new stores: 0
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Tri Star Energy’s Twice Daily and White Bison Coffee opened their first joint c-store and coffee shop Jan. 15 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. It opened a second joint location Jan. 22 in Gallatin, Tenn. White Bison’s menu features cold brew and nitro coffee, craft sodas, espresso drinks, smoothies, pour-over coffee and other blended coffee drinks, as well as pastries and breakfast and lunch items, including sandwiches, salads and wraps. It also features indoor and outdoor dining, a drive-thru and Wi-Fi.
Net new stores: 2
Texas
Buchanan Energy’s Bucky’s opened a c-store in Nassau Bay, Texas, its first in the state, on Jan. 27.
QMart opened a new c-store in Houston on Jan. 27.
United Express opened a new c-store in Wolfforth, Texas, on Jan. 31. The 5,000-square-foot store is the first of its kind featuring both indoor and outdoor seating areas. It features fresh food offerings including made-to-order sandwiches, salads, pizzas and burritos. A barista bar offers custom-made coffee, smoothies and specialty drinks. It also features a large walk-in beer vault.
Net new stores: 3
West Virginia
Wisconsin
The Express Convenience Center in Kimberly, Wis., closed in early January. It was the first Express Convenience Center that U.S. Oil owned and operated. “It was determined the underground tanks and pipes needed to be replaced, which would cost approximately $100,000,” U.S. Oil said. “The third-party tenant of the store determined the cost to make those repairs was too high. Due to the age of the site, the tenant and U.S. Oil mutually agreed that the equipment upgrade investment was too great for the business to support.”
Pilot Flying J opened a new Pilot Express location in Houston on Jan. 5.
Net new stores: 1
TOTAL NEW STORES FOR JANUARY 2018: 23
TOTAL NEW STORES FOR 2018: 23
- To be sure your locations are listed in this roundup, please send new-store announcements to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@winsightmedia.com.