New Convenience-Store Roundup for May 2022

CHICAGO — This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new-to-industry (NTI) c-store openings, as well as closings, that took place in May 2022.

Thanks to Yesway’s addition of four new Allsup’s locations, with eight new stores, Texas easily topped the list of states.

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. Some of the owners and operators are new entrepreneurs, and some are industry veterans. (Watch for the 2022 Top 202 ranking in the June issue of CSP magazine and in CSP Daily News.)

Unless otherwise noted, these NTI locations offer the food, snacks, beverages, tobacco, merchandise, services and amenities found in most c-stores. Most offer fuel.

RaceTrac Petroleum opened a new c-store in Alabaster, Ala., on May 10. In addition to 16 fueling positions, it has three additional lanes for high-flow diesel with bulk diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). Foodservice includes grab-and-go pizza and sandwiches; whole and cut fruit and salads made and delivered daily; a Swirl World frozen treat station with ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet and up to 24 toppings; six blends of freshly ground, freshly brewed Crazy Good Coffee with creamers, sweeteners and toppings; roller grill offerings such as Nathan’s Famous hot dogs; and tornados, featuring battered and fried tortillas filled with meats, cheeses and spices.

QuikTrip opened a new c-store in Calera, Ala., on May 26. It offers 20 gasoline fueling positions for cars and six diesel bays for trucks. It also features an expanded QT Kitchens location offering fresh, made-to-order food, premium specialty drinks and tasty frozen treats. It also offers grab-and-go items such as doughnuts, salads, wraps, pizza and roller grill fare. Other items include warm, soft pretzels, custom breakfast tacos, hardwood smoked BBQ sandwiches, cold brew coffee and frozen treats such as the QuikShake.

Net new stores*: 2

*Represents new-to-industry 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. The roundup does not include raze-and-rebuild, remodeled or replacement stores.

A Circle K c-store in Tempe, Ariz., that was featured in the movie Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, closed on May 10. Circle K confirmed the closing: “The rumors aren’t bogus. We are planning to close our store …. It’s a location that has enjoyed some most triumphant times in its more than 30 years of serving the Tempe community. We know that the news will come across as non-non-heinous to many. But brace yourself, amigos. We have some bodacious plans for Circle K as we continue growing in Arizona and around the world, opening state-of-the-art new stores and launching exciting new programs, offers and experiences to help make our customers’ lives a little more excellent every day.” The company will relocate the employees to other stores. To commemorate its place in cinematic history, Harkins Theatres hosted two screenings of the film in the store’s parking lot. It projected the movie onto a screen mounted to the building.

Net new stores: -1

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Springfield, Ga., on May 5. It has 74 truck, 70 car and threeRV parking spaces. The site also has six diesel bays, CAT scale and a dog park. The more than 14,000-square-foot store features a Chester’s Chicken and a McDonald’s quick-service restaurant and proprietary Fresh Kitchen foodservice concept, as well as bean-to-cup coffee. It also has six showers, a laundry facility and a Mobile to Go electronics store.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened a new 4,283-square-foot c-store in Hoopeston, Ill., on May 5. It has a six-gasoline pump island setup with the following fuel types: 87E, 91E, 93E, E85, DEF and biodiesel blend.

Foxtrot opened a new c-store in Wrigleyville in Chicago on May 18. The 2,750-square-foot space has a patio facing Gallagher Way park for customers to have a coffee, glass of wine or quick meal outside. The store’s beverage section offers a nod to the sounds of Wrigley Field, the Cubs’ baseball stadium, with Beer Here! Ice Cold Beer! signage calling attention to an array of grab-and-go alcohol options. Nonalcohol options include kombucha, juices, water and more. The store also has a dedicated wine section, with both chilled and unchilled options.

Big Daddy Liquor and Fuel opened in Colp, Ill., in May.

Net new stores: 3

A new Quickway gas station with Countrymark fuel opened in Upland, Ind., on May 17. Features include five pumping stations, free air for tires, a drive-thru service window and a convenience store. It offers off-road diesel in addition to regular-grade gasoline.

Net new stores: 1

A new Grab-N-Geaux Country Store & Smokehouse opened in Lake Charles, La., on May 17. It offers Chevron fuels.

Net new stores: 1

Rutter’s opened a new c-store in Frederick, Md., on May 10.

Net new stores: 1

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Cameron, Mo., on May 5. It has 120 truck, 77 car and six RV parking spaces. The site also has eight diesel bays, CAT scale, a Speedco facility and a dog park. The more than 12,000-square-foot store features an Arby’s quick-service restaurant and proprietary Fresh Kitchen foodservice concept, as well as bean-to-cup coffee. It also has 10 showers, a laundry facility and a Mobile to Go electronics store.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Gretna, Neb., on May 20.

Bosselman Enterprises opened a new Pump & Pantry c-store in Grand Island, Neb. , on May 26.

Net new stores: 2

Wawa opened a new c-store in North Bergen, N.J., on May 26.

Net new stores: 1

Yesway opened a new Allsup’s c-stores in Texas in May under a new large-format convenience store and a hybrid truckstop. The store in Alamogordo, N.M., is the first of the new prototype, has 5,630 square feet of merchandising space and 24 fueling positions with three high-speed diesel fueling lanes. The store offers Allsup’s burritos; a full assortment of Yesway and Allsup’s private-label snacks; a new trucker and automotive section; Allsup’s bread, milk and eggs; and a beer cave along with amenities including Western Union service, an ATM and Coin Cloud digital currency machines offering more than 30 currencies. 

Net new stores: 1  

7-Eleven opened a new c-store in Manhattan in New York City in early May.

Amazon opened a new Amazon Go cashierless c-store in New York City on May 3.

Net new stores: 2

Sheetz opened a new c-store in Grandview Heights, Ohio, on May 24.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened new c-stores in Edmond, Okla., on May 13 and Shawnee, Okla., on May 27.

Net new stores: 2

A 7-Eleven c-store in Eugene, Ore., near the University of Oregon closed in early May.

Moxie Café and Market opened in Ashland, Ore., on May 22. It pairs a coffee shop with an upscale convenience store experience. The café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The location also has alcohol on tap as well as premade cocktails for sale.

Net new stores: 1

Giant Eagle opened a new GetGo c-store in McKeesport, Pa., on May 20.

Net new stores: 1

Buc-ee’s opened a new travel center in Florence, S.C., on May 16. The site offers 120 fueling positions, and the store occupies more than 53,000 square feet. It features Texas barbeque, fudge, kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, jerky and fresh pastries.

Net new stores: 1

BP opened a new Thorntons c-store in La Vergne, Tenn., on May 20. The location is a 5,500-square-foot store on 4.8 acres. Featured amenities include self-checkout; LED lighting; burritos and sandwiches prepared throughout the day in the store’s onsite kitchen; beverages including bean-to-cup coffee and fountain beverages with nugget ice; a rear diesel island; limited overnight parking; and a Popeyes restaurant.

MAPCO opened a new c-store in Columbia, Tenn., on May 31. It features the chain’s Store of the Future design, with an open floor interior design with large windows and tall ceilings to allow more natural light, as well as expanded bathrooms and seating with wireless charge stations for digital devices. The new location also features a Pizza Hut Express station with made-to-order pizza, pasta and wings.

Net new stores: 2

QuikTrip opened two new c-stores in Killeen, Texas, in early May.

In May, Yesway opened four new Allsup’s c-stores in Texas under a new large-format convenience store and a hybrid truckstop. The store in Mineral Wells, Texas, is the first of the new prototype, has 5,630 square feet of merchandising space and 24 fueling positions with four high-speed diesel fueling lanes. The other three Allsup’s c-stores are in Friona, Hereford and Azle, Texas. Each features 5,630 square feet of interior merchandising space, 28 fueling positions and are open 24 hours a day. All of these new stores offer Allsup’s burritos; a full assortment of Yesway and Allsup’s private-label snacks; a new trucker and automotive section; Allsup’s bread, milk and eggs; and a beer cave along with amenities including Western Union service, an ATM and Coin Cloud digital currency machines offering more than 30 currencies.

The Corner Store opened a new location in Seminole, Texas, on May 12. It offers Valero fuel and a made-to-order kitchen that specializes in fresh-egg breakfast burritos and homemade hamburgers. Drivers can also find showers and clean restrooms.

A GMart c-store and Valero gas station opened in Pflugerville, Texas, in late May. It features a Buddah Burger quick-service restaurant with freshly ground, ultra-premium beef burgers as well as chicken sandwiches, french fries and milkshakes. It also be offers vegan and vegetarian options, and a breakfast menu.

Net new stores: 8

Good2Go opened a new c-store in Nephi, Utah, on May 13.

Net new stores: 1

A Shell gas station and c-store with Chester’s Chicken opened in Roanoke, Va., on May 13.

Net new stores: 1

Sun Pacific Energy opened a 4,000-square-foot Firehouse Subs-anchored Sun Market c-store and gas station in West Richland, Wash., in May. It also features a drive-thru.

Net new stores: 1

A 7-Eleven c-store in the Georgetown neighborhood in Washington, D.C., closed on May 15.

Net new stores: -1

Rutter’s opened a new more than 8,400-square-foot c-store in Martinsburg, W.Va., on May 21. It has 14 fueling positions. Customers have a variety of Top Tier certified gasoline options to choose from, including Unleaded 15, flex fuel, regular, midgrade and premium gasoline. In addition, the new store offers premium auto diesel, as well as kerosene and off-road diesel. For trucks and commercial vehicle customers, there will be four dedicated high-speed premium truck diesel pumps and in-lane diesel exhaust fluid (DEF).

Net new stores: 1

The Lake Shore Holiday Stationstore West in Ashland, Wis., closed in late May because of the cost to upgrade the fuel dispensers.

Net new stores: -1

NEW STORES OPENED IN MAY 2022: 33

STORES CLOSED IN MAY 2022: 4

NET NEW STORES IN MAY 2022: 29

TOTAL NET NEW STORES IN 2022: 112

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.