New Convenience-Store Roundup for September 2021

CHICAGO — This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new-to-industry (NTI) c-store openings, as well as closings, that took place in September 2021.

Florida and New Jersey tied for the top slot in the monthly state-by-state count, including three new Garden State stores from QuickChek.

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.

Click through for a state-by-state breakdown …

Tri Star Energy opened a Twice Daily c-store and White Bison Coffee shop in Madison, Ala., on Sept. 14. In addition to traditional convenience items, Twice Daily’s offerings range from grab-and-go snacks, including organic brands, to a selection of staple groceries. A fresh deli case provides handmade and healthy options featuring fruits, sandwiches, salads and snacks. Additional offerings include doughnuts and pastries, freshly prepared breakfast and lunch sandwiches and an extensive beer cave featuring local and craft beers. The White Bison Coffee concept offers roasted, handcrafted specialty coffee drinks featuring drip coffee, single-origin pour-over coffees, cold brew, nitro coffee, hot and cold espresso beverages, seasonal drinks and more. Customers can also enjoy freshly baked pastries and handmade breakfast and lunch items, including sandwiches, salads and Bistro snack boxes. The location includes a White Bison Coffee drive-thru window.

RaceTrac Petroleum opened a gas station and c-store in Chelsea, Ala., in mid-September.

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 or replacement stores.

EG America’s Cumberland Farms opened a new c-store in Middlebury, Conn., on Sept. 30. At more than 4,400 square feet, the Straits Turnpike location offers eight gas fueling stations across four islands, 32 parking spots, and the convenience of curbside pick-up/order ahead capabilities for pizza with the SmartPay Rewards app. It features the Farmhouse Fresh To Go concept, which includes a selection of breakfast and lunch sandwiches made daily in its own kitchen.

Net new stores: 1

The Chaudhary Petroleum Group opened a new 7-Eleven franchise c-store and ExxonMobil gas station in Westlake, Fla., on Sept. 3, the city’s first new retail development since incorporating in 2016. Developed in cooperation with 7-Eleven, the new concept features a Fusion Fresh restaurant, wine cellar, coffee bar, nitro cold-brew and iced tea bar. Fusion Fresh offers a made-to-order menu. Breakfast items include hot oatmeal bowls with fresh fruit, breakfast sandwiches, quesadillas and burritos. Lunch and dinner items include fresh chicken dishes, hamburgers and sandwiches. Patrons order directly from a digital pad at the counter and have the option of eating outside on a landscaped patio or taking their food to go. Delivery service is also available.

Delaware North partnered with Mastercard for a checkout-free c-store at TIAA Bank Field, home of NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, in Jacksonville, Fla. The new store, MRKT, debuted Sept. 19, stocked with an assortment of prepackaged grab-and-go food and drink items. It is the first commerce experience within a sports venue to feature Mastercard’s Shop Anywhere platform, which allows customers to pay without waiting in line or stopping to check out. Shop Anywhere, supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision technology partner Accel Robotics, is an insights and analytics platform that enables retailers to create personalized shopping experiences. Mastercard’s technology includes inventory management, secure payments, loyalty solutions and authentication and program analytics. Before entering MRKT, shoppers complete a one-time registration via QR code that includes linking a form of mobile payment. They receive a QR digital key to scan at the entrance. Shoppers select products and exit without a formal checkout process, and their card is automatically charged.

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Mims, Fla., on Sept. 30. The site offers 93 truck, 87 car and four RV parking spaces, with eight diesel bays. The more than 11,00-square-foot store features a Hardee’s restaurant, the chain’s Fresh Kitchen foodservice concept and bean-to-cup coffee. It has seven showers and laundry facilities. It also has a Mobile to Go Zone with the latest GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories. The site also has a dog park. A Speedco facility that will open at a later date.

Net new stores: 3

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Ankeny, Iowa, on Sept. 3.

Net new stores: 1

Webster’s Market, a new c-store in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich., opened on Sept. 1. It stocks dairy, ready-made items, pop, energy drinks, candy, gum, bread, cereal, salads, ready-made sandwiches, ice cream, toiletry items and many more foods and staple items, but does not sell alcohol or tobacco.

Net new stores: 1

Lipscomb Oil opened a Parker’s Filling Station on Park Ave in Greenwood, Miss., on Sept. 9.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Lake Ozark, Mo., on Sept. 23.

One of the last full-service gas stations in Springfield, Mo., closed its doors on Sept. 30 with the owner’s retirement. The Brentwood Service Center has been a fixture since 1955 when Texaco built the station. In 1964, Ed Wagoner bought it and his son Chip, who started working for his father at the station when he was 12, took over in 1979. The station offered full-service gas dispensing, oil checks and window washing by an employee in an industry now dominated by self-service businesses. “It’s been taken over by convenience stores,” Wagoner said. “And the more they did that the more customers I got.” A Rapid Roberts c-store is slated to open on the site.

Net new stores: 0

Murphy USA’sQuickChek opened three new c-stores in New Jersey: Somerset on Sept. 10, Roxbury on Sept. 17 and Piscataway on Sept. 22. Each of the new stores features a contemporary new white and brick exterior design with a green tower with a large green “Q” to complement the “Fresh to Go” interior layout. More than half of each new store’s floorplan is dedicated to freshly prepared food and beverages. An open floor plan features earth tone colors, clean sightlines and spacious standalone food displays. A new foodservice menu features made-to-order breakfast items include the new Waffle Breakfast Sandwiches; extensions to the Portuguese roll lineup of signature QuickChek sub sandwiches and wraps; a daily rotation of soups; a selection of healthy baked snacks and fresh-cut fruit; baked goods made in-store. Indoor seating counters offer phone and laptop charging stations and free WiFi. Outside, the location has 16 fueling positions.

Net new stores: 3

Mirabito opened a new c-store in Binghamton, N.Y., on Sept. 27. It features a kiosk ordering system and drive-thru.

Net new stores: 1

Sheetz opened a new c-store on Sept. 9 in Lancaster, Pa. It also opened a new, 6,077-square-foot c-store on Spt. 29 in Ferguson Township, Pa. That store, on part of the 71.9 acre former Harner Farm, features a drive-thru and a 1,048-square-foot car wash.

Net new stores: 2

Parker’s opened a new Parker’s Kitchen c-store in Moncks Corner, S.C., on Sept. 3.

Net new stores: 1

Abbott’s Travel Center, a convenience store and travel center Interstate 35 in Abbott, Texas, opened its doors in early September. The location accommodates all types of travelers and offers parking and fuel for professional drivers and interstate travelers as well as electric vehicle charging stations. Numan Dharani, co-owner of Abbott’s Travel Center, said they also plan to open a drive-thru. The store offers Krispy Krunchy Chicken and Hunt Brothers Pizza, a f’real frozen dessert machine and an ICEE frozen drink machine. As Abbott, Texas, is the birthplace of Willie Nelson, the store also offers products from Willie’s Remedy, which includes a line of CBD-infused loose-leaf tea and coffee.

CEFCO Convenience Stores opened a new location in Kilgore, Texas, on Sept. 16. It also features a CEFCO Kitchen and Huddle House restaurant. The location has 55 parking spaces and square footage of 6,054 square feet. It features seven multipump dispensers (MPDs), which include ethanol-free fuel as well as diesel.

Net new stores: 2

7-Eleven opened a new c-store in Sterling, Va., in mid-September. It includes six dual gas pumps, for a total of 12 fueling stations.

Net new stores: 1

NEW STORES OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2021: 20

STORES CLOSED IN SEPTEMBER 2021: 1

NET NEW STORES IN SEPTEMBER 2021: 19

TOTAL NET NEW STORES IN 2021: 184

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.