New Convenience-Store Roundup for July 2019
By Greg Lindenberg on Aug. 14, 2019CHICAGO — This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new c-store openings, closings and more for July 2019.
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. And click here for coverage of convenience-industry mergers-and-acquisition activity.
Many of the stores listed here are owned by independent operators, while others belong to major chains. Many are part of CSP’s new 2019 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
On July 18, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Hazen, Ark. It has 111 truck, 97 car and three RV parking spots. The facility features a Chester’s Chicken, Godfather’s Pizza, Subway, 10 diesel bays, seven showers, laundry facilities, bean-to-cup gourmet coffee, Mobile to Go Zone with electronics and CAT scales. And on July 25, Love’s opened another new location in Lake Village, Ark. It has 52 truck and 51 car parking spots. The facility features a Chester’s Chicken, Petro’s Chili & Chips, four diesel bays, four showers, bean-to-cup gourmet coffee, Mobile to Go Zone with electronics and CAT Scales.
Net new stores*: 2
*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. It also does not include store openings previously reported in CSP Daily News.
California
Florida
RaceTrac Petroleum opened a new c-store, its first “RaceTrac of the Future,” in Poinciana, Fla., on July 19. The new store design features many updates, including indoor and outdoor seating, 10 Swirl World frozen yogurt flavors with more than 40 toppings, a walk-in beer cooler with more than 50 brands and free wireless internet.
Net new stores: 1
Illinois
7-Eleven opened a new, 2,720-square-foot c-store in Mount Prospect, Ill., in early July.
Net new stores: 1
Indiana
Casey’s General Stores held a grand opening for a new c-store in Clay, Ind., on July 20.
Net new stores: 1
Iowa
Hy-Vee opened a new Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh Express c-store and gas station July 26 in Knoxville, Iowa.
Net new stores: 1
Kentucky
The Soggy Bottom General Store opened July 4 in Perry County, Ky. It sells basic groceries and household items and has a deli that offers sandwiches, hot dogs, pizza and hand-dipped ice cream.
Net new stores: 1
Louisiana
Michigan
New owners Cindy and Dennis Topham opened Quencher’s Corner, formerly Bill’s Place, in Manistee, Mich., on July 1. The store features beer, wine and groceries, as well as fishing tackle.
Frye’s Gas and Grocery opened July 8 in McBain, Mich.
Net new stores: 2
Minnesota
A SuperAmerica c-store in Alexandria, Minn., closed at the end of July. Manager Carrie Keesling said the store's lease had ended, another c-store was opening nearby and owner Doug Thompson chose to retire. Marathon Petroleum acquired SuperAmerica in October 2018 and is converting them to the Speedway brand.
Net new stores: -1
Missouri
Montana
Town Pump opened an 18,000-square-foot c-store in Billings, Mont., on July 24. The c-store, the largest in Montana, includes Lucky Lil’s Casino & Lounge. The site features 15 fuel pumps with 30 fueling stations.
Net new stores: 1
New Hampshire
Cumberland Farms opened a c-store in Hudson, N.H., on July 24. The 4,384-square-foot location is a new prototype featuring an aesthetically upgraded interior, said David Heilbronner, director of brand strategy and advertising. The store places the checkout area, which is usually front and center, off to the right side of the entrance to showcase the product offerings as the first thing people see when they walk in. EG Group acquired Cumberland Farms in July 2019.
Net new stores: 1
New Jersey
QuickChek opened a new, 5,496-square-foot c-store in Mahwah, N.J., on July 16. It features the company's Fresh to Go design, with more than 50% of the store dedicated to fresh food and beverages. The sleek, 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. Amenities in the new store include no-fee ATMs, indoor seating for 10 people with phone and laptop charging stations and free Wi-Fi, 16 fueling positions and 64 parking spaces.
Water and structural damage forced Wawa in mid-July to permanently close a c-store in Waretown, N.J., that had been open for 26 years.
Net new stores: 0
New York
Byrne Dairy opened a new, 4,232-square-foot c-store in Solvay, N.Y., on July 3. It also opened a new Byrne Dairy & Deli in Newark, N.Y., on July 12.
The Army and Air Force Exchange opened the new Ontario Express in Fort Drum, N.Y., on July 8. If features an Arby’s restaurant with a drive-thru, Hunt Brothers Pizza, a four-chair barbershop and an eight-pump gas station.
Net new stores: 3
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Sheetz closed a c-store in Exeter Township, Pa., in early July. The store opened in 1999.
Net new stores: -1
Tennessee
Weigel’s opened a new c-store in Kingsport, Tenn., on July 15. It features the new Weigel’s Kitchen: Now Open, a dedicated quick foodservice kiosk with a touchscreen ordering system. The kitchen concept offers soft-serve ice cream and shakes, along with made-to-order subs. Weigel’s fresh-baked goods are delivered daily from Weigel’s Knoxville-based bakery. It also has no-fee ATMs.
Weigel’s closed a c-store in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 22 after 62 years.
Net new stores: 0
Texas
Virginia
Sheetz opened a new c-store in Sterling, Va., in early July.
At the end of July, Suzanne Crump Rudd and Donald Rudd sold Crump's Store, a c-store and gas station business in operation since 1925 in Chesterfield County, Va., to Hitesh and Rita Patel. The Rudds took over the store in 1994. "It was time to retire. It was hard to leave, but we feel like it was the best thing for us to do right now," Crump Rudd said. "I'm 70 and he's 71, and we've been working for 50 years. When you have a store like that, you can't get away. We hadn't had a vacation in 25 years. It was a mom and pop operation." The new owners have changed the store’s name to Winterpock Market.
Net new stores: 0
Washington, D.C.
A 7-Eleven c-store in Washington, D.C., closed July 21.
Net new stores: -1
TOTAL NEW STORES FOR JULY 2019: 16
TOTAL NEW STORES FOR 2019: 132
To be sure your locations are listed in upcoming roundups, please send new-store announcements to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@winsightmedia.com.