New Convenience-Store Roundup for January 2021

CHICAGO — This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new-to-industry c-store openings and closings that took place in January 2021.

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 for much of last 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.

Pennsylvania saw the most new stores in this count, with four new locations; Casey’s General Stores and Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores were the retailers that opened the most stores in January, with six and four new locations, respectively.

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 (click here for the Top 40 update for 2021; the full 2021 list will appear in the June issue of CSP magazine). 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 …

Buc-ee's opened a new travel center in Leeds, Ala., on Jan. 25, the chain’s second in the state of Alabama. Buc-ee's Leeds occupies more than 53,250 square feet and offers 120 fueling positions. It features barbeque, fudge, kolaches, Beaver nuggets, jerky and fresh pastries will all be available as well, among other merchandise and amenities. The chain is known for its clean restrooms.

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.

On Jan. 20, Pilot opened the Xpress Fuel travel center and new Trucker Burger restaurant concept on I-10 in Eloy, Ariz., part of the company’s One9 Fuel Network. It has 16 gasoline fueling positions and eight diesel lanes, 82 truck parking spots, eight showers, laundry and CAT scale. Grab-and-go food offerings including roller grill, nachos and hot and cold packaged sandwiches and snacks. Trucker Burger offers burgers, griddled hot dogs, hot sandwiches, stacked nachos, hand-cut fries and soft-serve ice cream.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Fayetteville, Ark., on Jan. 28.

Net new stores: 1

QuikTrip opened a new c-store in Gainesville, Ga., on Jan. 14.

Enmarket opened a new travel center Jan. 7 in Pooler, Ga. The new store features The Eatery, the chain’s signature kitchen, also with bean-to-cup coffee and Mooz frozen yogurt. The fuel selection is unleaded, mid-grade, premium, non-ethanol, diesel and truck diesel. Customers have the option of using self-service registers or their mobile phone, using mobile checkout technology with the Skip Checkout app.

Net new stores: 2

Maverik opened a new c-store in Post Falls, Idaho, on Jan. 26. It has 19 gas pumps and a BonFire Grill.

Net new stores: 1

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Channahon, Ill., on Jan. 21 off of I-55. It has nine diesel bays and 91 truck, 59 car and two RV parking spaces. At more than 15,000 square feet, the store features Godfather's Pizza, Arby's and Chester's Chicken restaurants, along with the chain’s Fresh Kitchen foodservice concept and bean-to-cup coffee. It has eight showers, laundry facilities, a Mobile to Go Zone for electronics, CAT scale, a Speedco truck maintenance facility and a dog park.

Net new stores: 1

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Huntington, Ind., on Jan. 14. The site has four diesel bays and 41 truck and 42 car parking spaces. The store, at 8,00 square feet, features a Taco John’s restaurant and the chain’s Fresh Kitchen concept and bean-to-cup coffee. It also has four showers, laundry facilities, a Mobile to Go Zone and a CAT scale.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Stuart, Iowa, on Jan. 14.

Net new stores: 1

Max’s, a new c-store and Amoco gas station, opened in Gage Center, Kansas, on Jan. 18.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Starbuck, Minn., on Jan. 7.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Springfield, Mo., on Jan. 28.

Net new stores: 1

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Winnemucca, Nev., on Jan. 28 off of I-80. The site has 67 truck and 69 car parking spaces and eight diesel bays. The more than 14,000-square-foot store features a Carl’s Jr. restaurant and the chain’s Fresh Kitchen concept and bean-to-cup coffee. It also has eight showers, laundry facilities, game room, a Mobile to Go Zone, CAT scale and a Speedco facility.

Net new stores: 1

7-Eleven opened a new c-store in Clifton, N.J., in mid-January.

Net new stores: 1

A new Byrne Dairy deli and gas station opened Jan. 29 in Ithaca, N.Y. The 24-hour store includes a full-service deli counter, hot pizza by the slice or pie, Shelby’s Donuts and ice cream cones. There is\ a full selection of Byrne Dairy milk and ice cream, as well as groceries.

Cumberland Farms opened a new, 5,275-square-foot c-store in Greenwich, N.Y.

Also in January, 7-Eleven opened a new c-store in Bay Shore, N.Y.

Net new stores: 3

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Valley City, N.D., off of I-94, on Jan. 21. The site has seven diesel bays and 85 truck, 100 car and three parking spaces. The more than 13,000-square-foot store has a McDonald’s restaurant and the chain’s Fresh Kitchen concept and bean-to-cup coffee, as well as eight showers, laundry facilities, Mobile to Go Zone, CAT scale, Speedco and a dog park.

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Fargo, N.D., on Jan. 28.

Net new stores: 2

TravelCenters of America opened a new location in Huntington, Ore., off of I-84, on Jan. 13. The 12,000-square-foot new facility will operate under the ownership of franchisee Karam Singh. It features 150 truck and 40 car parking spaces, eight diesel and 12 gasoline fueling positions. Restaurants include Champs Chicken and Naughty Chile Taqueria, with Huntington Bar and Grill opening soon. It also has six showers, a fitness room, driver lounge, laundry facilities and Transflo scanning. A TA Truck Service center is planned to open next year.

Net new stores: 1

Wawa debuted its first standalone drive-thru c-store on Jan. 8 in Morrisville, Pa. The architectural design of the new, 1,800-square-foot drive-thru-only retail outlet is based on key brand elements such as the trademarked canopy, while the offer is focused on fresh food in a drive-thru and curbside pickup experience. With operating hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the store’s team can serve 12 cars at a time for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Sheetz opened a new, 4,900-square-foot c-store in Collier, Pa., on Jan. 28. The chain also opened a new, 6,800-square-foot c-store in Weisenberg Township, Pa., off of I-78, in early January, the convenience store chain’s fifth Lehigh Valley site.

Giant Eagle opened a new GetGo c-store and eight-pump gas station in Bensalem, Pa., on Jan. 29.

Net new stores: 4

QuikTrip opened a new, $7 million travel center in Orangeburg County, S.C., off of I-26, on Jan. 7. It occupies six acres and includes 20 gas pumps and 10 truck bays.

Net new stores: 1

7-Elevenopened a c-store in Tyler, Texas, on Jan. 27.

A Stripes c-store in San Angelo, Texas, has been boarded up and is no longer open for business.

Net new stores: 0

A Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Paradise, Utah, that has been empty for years is back in business as the Stillwater Café and convenience store. Lisa Gamble and her husband, George, have been remodeling and updating the place for the past three years and opened the doors to the market on Jan. 9. Parts of the store date back to 1880 when it operated as a Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution Trading Post.

Net new stores: 1

West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.Va., opened the Market @ UPlace, a grocery and convenience store, on Jan. 11, in the space vacated by Sheetz in 2019. The store is located on campus at University Place, directly below on-campus apartments and just steps from campus. It offers snacks, fresh produce, fresh coffee at Starbucks, and ready-made meals in the “grab-and-go” section. There is also a section with tables and chairs where students can eat food and study.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Cedarburg, Wis., on Jan. 29.

Net new stores: 1

NEW STORES OPENED IN JANUARY 2021: 29

STORES CLOSED IN JANUARY 2021: 1

NET NEW STORES IN JANUARY 2021: 28

TOTAL NET NEW STORES FOR 2021: 28

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.