New Convenience-Store Roundup for January 2020
By Greg Lindenberg on Feb. 11, 2020CHICAGO — This first New Convenience-Store Roundup of the year features new c-store openings, closings and more that took place in January 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 …
Alabama
MinitMan Food Stores opened its first new c-store in 20 years on Jan. 8 in Athens, Ala. It features Shell fuels.
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 Sacramento, Calif., on Jan. 17.
7-Eleven opened a new c-store in downtown Sacramento, Calif., on Jan. 18.
Net new stores: 2
Connecticut
Florida
Indiana
Martin & Bayley opened a new Huck’s c-store Jan. 14 in Seymour Ind. The 4,800-square-foot store features a new design and brand refresh, “a modern yet vintage look” called Huck’s Market, according to the company. The exterior is a brick facade with dark earth tones, with built-in signage. The interior is done in brown and gray earth tones, with soft blue signs on corrugated metal that resembles an old-fashioned washboard. The flooring has a wood-grain look intended to make the customer think of old-fashioned stores. Employee uniforms match the overall decor of the store. It offers Huck’s fried chicken, Godfather’s pizza, subs, salads, Bigg Swigg fountain drinks, iced and hot coffee, frozen drinks, snacks, candy and more.
Net new stores: 1
Iowa
White Oak Station, a gas station and c-store in Sioux Center, Iowa, closed Jan. 23.
Net new stores: -1
Kentucky
Clark's Pump-N-Shop’s Panther Mart in Ironville, Ky., officially closed for business Jan. 7.
Net new stores: -1
Massachusetts
VERC Enterprises opened two new c-stores in January in Athol and Bellingham, Mass. At 5,000 square feet, the VERC Athol Mobil is a new-to-industry site and the chain’s second-largest. VERC is leasing the property. Features include a Dunkin' drive-thru, sales of beer and wine and a diesel truck aisle at the pumps. The new location in Bellingham is VERC’s first Shell station.
The Express Mart, a family-owned c-store, opened Jan. 17 in Orleans, Mass., at the former site of a Tedeschi's Food Shop.
On Jan. 21, Irving Oil opened The Irving, a c-store in Pembroke, Mass. The refiner-marketer’s new retail design has a heritage-style exterior and contemporary interior, with vaulted ceilings, soft colors and natural light. It brings in elements of a market-style cafe with freshly prepared comfort food, indoor and outdoor seating areas, self-checkout options and clean restrooms with a modern aesthetic, the company said. The menu includes made-to-order sandwiches, flatbread pizzas and hot dogs, plus all-day breakfast. It serves New England’s Baronet Coffee. The site offers Top Tier detergent gasoline. And customers can help local families by fueling up at the site’s Fuel the Care Pumps. Irving Oil will donate 4 cents per gallon of fuel purchased at the designated pumps to support families at the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center.
Net new stores: 4
Michigan
Mitchell Street Market in downtown Petoskey, Mich., shut its doors at the end of January after about three decades, first as a 7-Eleven franchise and then as an independent operation.
“Mitchell Street Market and 7-Eleven have been a big part of Lisa's and my life for over 20 years,” owners J.J. and Lisa Tuncap said on Facebook. "We have raised a family here and made countless number of friends along the way. It is with great sadness that I must tell you that we will be closing our doors at the end of the month. To make a long story short, the longtime owner of our building passed away. The building was recently sold and purchased by a new owner. Lisa and I will be moving on, but I assure you that we will not be moving away. I do not yet know what my next new adventure will be, but as most of you who know me, you know it will be a good one. It is our sincere hope that we will see you out and about in the community. We would like to give a sincere and heartfelt thank you to all of our friends and family for your support and friendship throughout the years. We will miss you.”
Net new stores: -1
Minnesota
A SuperAmerica station that closed last fall in Brainerd, Minn., opened in late January as The Mid-Town Depot, offering Cenex gas. Chad Knudson, owner of the Wild Rice Depot in south Brainerd and the Cornerstore near Pillager, purchased the site from Kelly Bevans, who continues to operate Kelly’s Service business. Knudson gutted the old store and replaced it with a modern look and expanded the inventory, especially candy; added a wall of beverages; and is expanding frozen and fresh food offerings.
Net new stores: 1
Nebraska
New Jersey
QuickChek opened a new c-store and gas station Jan. 21 in Eatontown, N.J. The 5,496-square-foot store features the chain’s Fresh to Go design, with more than 50% of the store dedicated to freshly prepared food and market items.
The open-concept layout features earth tone colors, cleaner sight lines and spacious stand-alone food displays with consumer-friendly expansive aisles for added convenience when customizing food and beverages, the company said. A new foodservice menu offers chef-crafted, custom-made subs featuring more meat and more proteins served on bakery-fresh ciabatta bread. A large stand-alone soup station offers a daily rotation of freshly prepared QuickChek soups. Amenities in the new store include no-fee ATMs; indoor seating for 10 with phone and laptop charging stations and free Wi-Fi; outdoor seating for eight; six gas pumps, for a total of 12 fueling positions; and 51 parking spaces.
Net new stores: 1
New Mexico
Allsup’s Convenience Stores, recently acquired by Yesway, opened the Allsup’s Market, a new store design in Melrose, N.M., on Jan. 19. With expanded grocery and perishables, Allsup’s Market sells fresh meat and produce, as well as an expanded selection of grocery items, frozen foods, baby goods and more.
Net new stores: 1
New York
Stewart’s Shops opened two new c-stores Jan. 10 in Hudson, N.Y., and Feura Bush, N.Y. The Hudson shop’s facade and architecture tie in with the historic city, and the store features three additional booths for expanded seating, a beer cave, a new food bar and pizza. The chain also opened a new c-store in Albany, N.Y., in late January.
Net new stores: 3
North Carolina
Ohio
FriendShip Stores opened a FriendShip Kitchen in Sandusky, Ohio, on Jan. 14.
Casey’s General Stores opened a new, 4,789-square-foot c-store in New Carlisle, Ohio, on Jan. 31. The store has eight gasoline pumps.
Net new stores: 2
Pennsylvania
Royal Farms opened a new c-store Jan. 9 in Broomall, Pa.
Wawa opened a new c-store Jan. 10 in Philadelphia. The store, the chain’s smallest at 3,000 square feet, features the debut of a new design that includes a pickup window. It also offers a new Good to Go line of expanded hot and cold express items and a self-serve hot tea bar featuring Revolution Tea.
Provisions, a c-store in Harrisburg, Pa., closed its doors. Business partners Adam Porter and Shaun Donovan opened the store in fall 2017. They described it as a “Trader Joe’s inside the footprint of a 7-Eleven.” It catered to city workers and residents within walking distance and offered grab-and-go items, meat, cleaning supplies, bulk items and local products. “We’d like to thank all of our patrons, vendors, staff, family and friends who’ve supported us on this wild ride of small-business ownership the last two years,” the owners posted on Facebook. “Our last day will be Jan. 31, 2020. While saying goodbye is never easy, we can end this journey being proud of the grit and drive of the fellow small businesses we aimed to feature every day. We ask that you keep supporting these inspiring, talented individuals and businesses—with your hard-earned dollars—as much as you’re able. The rapidly evolving landscape of retail, especially for food, makes your consistent, impassioned support of your favorite local small businesses absolutely critical. We cannot thank you enough for your love of the fresh, local, healthy food we sought to bring to a city we adore. Peace, Love & Good Grub, Adam, Shaun & Heather (and Keegan).”
Net new stores: 1
Tennessee
Texas
Alimentation Couche-Tard’s Circle K opened a new c-store in McAllen, Texas, on Jan. 11.
QuikTrip opened a new travel center in Windcrest, Texas, on Jan. 16.
Net new stores: 2
Washington
Pilot Flying J opened a Pilot Travel Center in Ellensburg, Wash., in late January. It features 10 gasoline fueling positions and eight diesel lanes, 48 truck parking spots, Pilot’s Best Gourmet Coffees, a Cinnabon, five showers, a laundry and a drivers’ lounge and game room.
Net new stores: 1
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Lisbon, Wis., on Jan. 31.
Net new stores: 1
NEW STORES OPENED IN JANUARY 2020: 27
STORES CLOSED IN JANUARY 2020: 5
NET NEW STORES FOR JANUARY 2020: 22
TOTAL NET NEW STORES FOR 2020: 22
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.