New Convenience-Store Roundup for October 2022

CHICAGO — 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 October 2022.

Illinois and California topped the monthly state tally of retail locations, adding five and four stores, respectively. Kwik Trip and Casey’s opened the most stores during the period, with eight and five, 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. 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. ...

SQRL opened a new c-store in Conway, Ark., on Oct. 1.

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.

Two cashierless c-stores, the Bud Light Seltzer Market and the Michelob Ultra Market, opened in Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles in early October. They use Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology.

Pilot opened a new travel center in Palmdale, Calif., in October. It features 55 truck parking spaces, 142 gasoline fueling positions and 7 diesel lanes with biofuel and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). It also has a Subway, Cinnabon, full deli with freshly prepared pizza, homestyle meals and grab-and-go options, four self-checkouts and five showers.

Deep Creek Country Market, a Shell gas station and convenience store, opened in Apple Valley, Calif., on Oct. 14.

Net new stores: 4

QuikTrip opened a new c-store in Bennett, Colo., on Oct. 20.

Net new stores: 1

TravelCenters of America opened a new, franchised TA Express location in Bullock County near Statesboro, Ga., in mid-October. It features a Burger King restaurant.

Net new stores: 1

TravelCenters of America opened a new, franchised TA Express location in Riverton, Ill., on Oct. 3.

Casey’s General Stores opened new c-stores in Marengo, Ill., on Oct. 6; Chebanse, Ill., and Spring Grove, Ill., on Oct. 20; and Lake Zurich, Ill., on Oct. 27.

Net new stores: 5

Kwik Trip opened new Kwik Star c-stores in Oelwein, Iowa, on Oct. 6 and Le Claire, Iowa, on Oct. 20.

Net new stores: 2

bp opened a new Thorntons c-store in Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 7. The 4,400-square-foot facility is set on 2.7 acres and has 16 auto fueling positions and two diesel lanes. It features freshly made burritos and sandwiches prepared throughout the day in the store’s onsite kitchen, bean-to-cup coffee and fountain beverages with nugget ice. It also offers self-checkout.

Net new stores: 1

Royal Farms opened a new c-store in Bowie, Md., on Oct. 31.

Neon Marketplace opened a new c-store in Freetown, Mass., on Oct. 20. It offers gas, diesel and Tesla charging stations. It also features a Dunkin’ Donuts. In addition to its signature pizzas, the store offers a variety of made-to-order and grab-and-go options, including hand-made grinders and sandwiches; salads; snacks; fountain and cooler drinks; as well as delivery and catering services. Developed in conjunction with James Beard award-winning chef and restaurateur Michael Schlow, Neon’s pizzas are baked in traditional brick ovens.

Net new stores: 1

Kwik Trip opened a new c-store in Bessemer, Mich., on Oct. 14.

Net new stores: 1

Kwik Trip opened new c-stores in Duluth, Minn., and Cokato, Minn., on Oct. 20.

Net new stores: 2

Wawa opened a new c-store in Union, N.J., on Oct. 6.

Bodega Munchies, a convenience store, smoke shop and deli, opened in Bloomingdale, N.J., in mid-October.

Net new stores: 2

Stewart’s Shops opened new c-stores in Schenectady, N.Y., on Oct. 20 andPotsdam, N.Y., on Oct. 26.

Net new stores: 2

Mac’s Market opened on Oct. 6 in an underserved area of Warren, Ohio. It offers seasonal fresh produce, often locally sourced, as well as a variety of items for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The owners, Jamaal and Mia McEachern, try to keep merchandise affordable. They partnered with the Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership. The organization helped them find the required refrigeration, shelving for the vegetables and a point-of-sale (POS) machine. And by partnering with the Warren Redevelopment and Planning, they obtained a grant that helped them fix the exterior, paint the building and add signage and new doors.

Tameika Cobb and Rasheedah Crawley opened Franklinton Market in Columbus, Ohio, on Oct. 27. The 1,250-square-foot market features basic convenience items including snacks, sodas, health and beauty aids, and a small number of grocery items, as well as fresh sandwiches, wraps and take-and-go meals. The store will also sell basic art supplies.

Net new stores: 2

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Moore, Okla., on Oct. 14.

Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores opened its 600th location in Perry, Okla., on Oct. 20, off of Interstate 35. It has 60 truck and 65 car parking spaces, as well as six RV hookups and an RV dump station. The site has six diesel bays, propane, a CAT scale, as well as a dog park. The more than 12,000-square-foot store has an Arby’s restaurant and feature’s Love’s proprietary Fresh Kitchen foodservice concept and bean-to-cup coffee. It also has five showers and laundry facilities, and a Mobile to Go Zone for electronics.

Net new stores: 2

Sheetz opened new c-stores in Allentown, Pa., on Oct. 6 and Carbondale, Pa., on Oct. 20.

Wawa closed two c-store in the Center City area of Philadelphia in late October over “continued safety and security challenges and business factors,” the retailer said in a statement. “We are very sorry we can’t be there for our friends and neighbors at these two locations, but we continue to serve the community from our other nearby stores and our commitment to the greater region remains strong. Philadelphia is our hometown and that’s something that will never change.”

Net new stores: 0

Spinx opened a new c-store in Greer, S.C., on Oct. 13.

Net new stores: 1

Hudson opened a combination Decanted and Hudson Nonstop retail and dining convenience concept at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on Oct. 6. The Hudson Nonstop, which adjoins Decanted, is powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology and Amazon One palm recognition. At more than 1,600 square feet in Terminal B, the new space brings together Hudson’s first wine bar and its travel essentials store. Decanted has 25 seats for breakfast, lunch, dinner or tapas. It offers charcuterie boards and bruschettas, as well as flatbreads, soups, salads and desserts. Breakfast items include an egg, sausage and cheese croissant, overnight oats and an Applewood bacon-and-egg flatbread. A wine list joins a curated selection of hand-shaken cocktails and other alcoholic beverages. It also features local beers on tap. The Hudson Nonstop is stocked with a selection of everyday travel essentials, from grab-and-go products to electronics, in addition to local souvenirs including Dallas Cowboys merchandise.

Toot’n Totum opened new c-stores in Amarillo, Texas, on Oct. 6 and Bushland, Texas, on Oct. 13.

Net new stores: 3

Sunoco opened a new APlus gas station and c-store in Leesburg, Va., at the Shops at Russell Branch in early October.

Sheetz opened a new c-store in Christiansburg, Va., on Oct. 13.

Net new stores: 2

Par Mar Stores opened new c-stores in Pittsburgh, W.Va., on Oct. 4 and in Lewisburg, W.Va., on Oct. 27. Also in late October, Par Mar opened Man Liquors, Lottery and Tobacco and Mountain Mart Village in Man, W.Va.

T-Mart, a c-store in Elkins, W.Va., closed in late October.

Net new stores: 2

Kwik Trip opened new c-stores in Altoona, Wis., on Oct. 6, Sturgeon Bay, Wis., on Oct. 20 and Waukesha, Wis., on Oct. 27.

Net new stores: 3

NEW STORES OPENED IN OCTOBER 2022: 42

STORES CLOSED IN OCTOBER 2022: 3

NET NEW STORES IN OCTOBER 2022: 39

TOTAL NET NEW STORES IN 2022: 242

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.