New Convenience-Store Roundup for May 2023

This edition of CSP’s New Convenience-Store Roundup features new-to-industry (NTI) c-store openings, as well as closings, that took place in May 2023.

Texas had the most new stores for the month, with five, followed by Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, each with four locations. Casey's General Stores opened new locations in five 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 ofCSP’s Top 202 ranking of c-store chains by size. Some of the owners and operators are new entrepreneurs, and some are industry veterans.

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

Jiffy Trip opened a new c-store in Fort Smith Arkansas, on May 18.

Net new stores*: 1

*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.

Pilot Co. opened the a new travel center in Rialto, California, on May 19. The facility has 14 gas and eight diesel pumps, with 92 parking spots. It has a CAT scale for truckers, seven showers, a drivers lounge and dining options including Arby’s, Cinnabon and a deli.

Net new stores: 1

Wawa opened a new c-store in Christiana, Delaware, on May 25.

Net new stores: 1

EG America’s Cumberland Farms opened a new, 8,175-square-foot c-store with 16 fuel pumps in Tallahassee, Florida, on May 2. It also features a Sbarro Pizza restaurant.

Wawa opened new c-stores in Homestead, Florida, on May 12, and in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 18.

Net new stores: 3

Smith’s Chevron, a full-service gas station in Augusta, Georgia, closed its doors on May 24 after four decades. Owner and President Tommy Smith has retired.

Net new stores: -1

Thorntons, owned by bp, opened a new c-store in Lockport, Illinois, on May 19. The company now operates a total of 89 stores in Illinois, 69 of which are in the Chicago area. The 5,500-square-foot facility is set on 4.25 acres and features amenities including self-checkout, LED lighting, freshly made burritos and sandwiches prepared throughout the day in the store’s onsite kitchen and a variety of top-of-the-line beverages such as fresh bean-to-cup coffee and fountain beverages with nugget ice. The site has 20 auto fueling positions and three diesel lanes.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Valparaiso, Indiana, on May 2, and new c-stores in Wanatah and Madison, Indiana, on May 18.

Net new stores: 3

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 18.

Net new stores: 1

Thorntons, owned by bp, opened a new c-store in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 26. The 4,400-square-foot facility is set on 3.19 acres and features amenities including self-checkout, LED lighting, freshly made burritos and sandwiches prepared throughout the day in the store’s onsite kitchen and a variety of top-of-the-line beverages such as fresh bean-to-cup coffee and fountain beverages with nugget ice. The site has 16 auto fueling positions.

Net new stores: 1

Royal Farms opened a new c-store in Berlin, Maryland, on May 8.

Net new stores: 1

Energy North Inc. opened a new flagship Haffner’s c-store in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on May 8. In partnership with Crack’d Kitchen & Coffee, a quick-service culinary-driven eatery, to open the first Crack’d Express. The eatery is a storefront and drive-thru version of the original Crack’d Kitchen & Coffee concept, which specializes in breakfast and lunch items. Crack’d Express features a pared-down version of Crack’d Kitchen’s menu focusing primarily on craft breakfast sandwiches made with cage-free eggs, house-made sausage and local applewood smoked bacon, as well as unusual coffee drinks. The store also features a Sal’s Pizza. The site also features a car wash.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Baxter, Minnesota, on May 4.

Net new stores: 1

QuickChek, owned by Murphy USA, opened a new, 5,670-square-foot c-store in Totowa, New Jersey, on May 9. The store features the chain’s “Fresh to Go” interior layout. An open floor plan with consumer-friendly, wide aisles features earth tone colors, clean sightlines and spacious standalone food displays. More than half of the new store is dedicated to freshly prepared food and beverages, including the chain’ guaranteed fresh brewed hot and iced coffees. It offers made-to-order breakfast items, subs, wraps and salads, as well as customize hot and cold beverages, select freshly prepared ready-to-go items. A new menu features a variety of slow-cooked hickory smoked signature-recipe pulled pork subs; English muffin breakfast sandwiches. Amenities include no-fee ATMs; 16 fueling positions; indoor seating for 10 people and outdoor seating for 8; and 45 parking spaces. While QuickChek owns and operates the store, the property is owned and leased to the chain by the Manzo family of the Brownstone and Real Housewives of New Jersey fame.

Wawa opened a new c-store in Ramsey, New Jersey, on May 12.

Net new stores: 2

Royal Farms opened a new c-store, its first, in Grandy, North Carolina, in early May.

Net new stores: 1

FriendShip Stores opened a new c-store in Oak Harbor, Ohio, on May 8. The new store offers the FriendShip Kitchen proprietary food and beverage program and is the 20th Friendship Kitchen and one of 29 FriendShip stores that owner Beck Suppliers operates. The store offers FriendShip Fuel and the proprietary FriendShip Kitchen restaurant menu. It has stuffed burritos and egg sandwiches for breakfast, paired with fresh bean-to-cup coffee brewed from premium locally roasted beans, and lunch and dinner choices range from salads to sandwiches, savory crust pizza, and FriendShip Famous hand-breaded chicken.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened two new c-stores in Midwest City, Oklahoma, on May 11 and May 19, respectively, and new c-stores in Muskogee and Chickasha, Oklahoma, both on May 19.

Net new stores: 4

Wawa opened new c-stores in Fairless Hills and Doylestown, Pennsylvania, on May 10 and 11, respectively.

Giant Eagle opened a new GetGo Café + Market c-store in Mars, Pennsylvania, on May 16. The 5,520-square-foot store is the company’s 270th GetGo location and includes a full kitchen that specializes in made-fresh-to-order meals, sandwiches, wraps and snacks. The site also features GetGo’s new bean-to-cup coffee machines and nitro and cold brew coffees, along with a wide selection of cold beverages. It has six gas pumps. GetGo unveiled a new version of its mascot, Lil’ Tot at the opening even, which also featured a sub sandwich cutting rather than a ribbon cutting.

Sheetz opened a new c-store in Bloomington, Pennsylvania, near Interstate 80, on May 25. The store will include four lanes that offer high-flow diesel fuel and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) for semi-trucks, along with 12 fuel terminals for other vehicles. The store will also feature 26 free parking spaces, available for overnight parking to truckers. The site is Sheetz’s 36th store to offer truck diesel fuel lanes.

Net new stores: 4

Parker’s opened two new Parker’s Kitchen c-stores, in North Charleston, South Carolina, on May 1, and in Georgetown, South Carolina, on May 30. The North Charleston store is the company’s 75th, its 12th in the metropolitan Charleston area. The Georgetown store, its 76th, is its 32nd in South Carolina. The stores feature Lowcountry-inspired architecture with a modern, contemporary glass-front façade with lime-washed brick, bracketry and designer lighting. The retail footprints offer an optimized interior layout to maximize efficiency for customers, with manned as well as self-checkout stations. They feature electronic kiosk ordering and offers grab-and-go options and a hot bar serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Popular items include Southern Fried Chicken Tenders, Spicy Chicken Tender Sandwich, macaroni and cheese, potato logs salads, coffee and freshly brewed sweet tea, lemonade, 28-degree beer and fountain drinks with Chewy Ice. The North Charleston store offers regular, diesel and marine non-ethanol fuel. The Georgetown store offers regular, diesel and non-ethanol fuel.

Net new stores: 2

MAPCO opened a new c-store in Lebanon, Tennessee, on May 18. As part of the grand opening ceremony, the chain unveiled “Fueling Our Future” dedicated gas pumps benefiting Mt. Juliet High School. For 30 days, MAPCO is donating 25 cents for every gallon pumped to the Bears’ athletic and arts programs. The 5,600-square-foot store has 16 fueling stations and uses the chain’s ‘Store of the Future’ design, featuring an open floor plan and refreshed layout with large windows, tall ceilings and clean, modern restrooms. It features a Pizza Hut Express and an expanded selection of snacks and refreshments. including a variety of hot foods, cold grab-and-go sandwiches and salads, pastries, nine flavors of ICEE frozen carbonated beverages, Fresh Blends smoothies and coffee from four bean-to-cup coffee brewers.  

Net new stores: 1

BW Gas & Convenience Holdings, which owns the Yesway and Allsup’s brands, opened four c-stores on May 7 in Colorado City, Roscoe, Snyder and Sweetwater, Texas.

Urban Value Corner Store opened a new location on May 25 in Historic Downtown Plano, Texas, under the Bel Air Apartment Community. It is the eighth location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The store carries a wide range of products, including groceries, household items and personal care products. Extended hours of operation ensure that tenants have access to the items they need. The stores stock an array of food and beverages such as beer, wine, sodas, freshly brewed coffee, pastries, snacks and healthy meals, as well as essential household items, OTC medications, pet snacks, toys and local Texas-made products are also available.

Net new stores: 5

A gas station with 16 pumps and a grab-and-go selection of snacks and drinks opened the first week in May in Yakima, Washington.

Net new stores: 1

Foxtrot, a hybrid convenience store, cafe and delivery market, opened on May 26 in the Navy Yard neighborhood, the chain’s eighth Washington, D.C./Maryland/Virginia (DMV)-area location. Developed by Foxtrot’s in-house design team in partnership with architect NAHRA, the new, 3,760-square-foot location features hand painted signage by Chicago Sign Systems and Caswell Sign & Design, found objects by Zap Props, custom lighting by hollis + morris, store fixtures by JSI and LSI, and furniture by Crow works. Foxtrot carries more than 150 local products from more than 50 local makers. Local brands include Nightingale ice cream, Ceremony Coffee, Anchor Beer, Little Sesame hummus and more. Foxtrot’s all-day café offerings include seasonal drinks, smoothies, breakfast tacos, chef-prepared salads and bowls and grab-and-go meals for lunch and dinner. The store also features local craft beers and wines selected by an in-house sommelier. The store offers delivery and pickup.

Net new stores: 1

NEW STORES OPENED IN MAY 2023: 37

STORES CLOSED IN MAY 2023: 1

NET NEW STORES IN MAY 2023: 36

TOTAL NET NEW STORES IN 2023: 124

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.