THOMASVILLE, N.C. -- On February 24, Sheetz Inc. officially opened its 500th convenience store, located in Thomasville, N.C.
To celebrate the opening of the 500th store, the chain offered free coffee and fountain drinks all day at all Sheetz locations.
Meanwhile, a new store in Morgantown, W.Va., slated to open on March 3 will launch the company on its way to 500 more.
Company executives told The Altoona Mirror that they are now planning for 750 stores and eventually 1,000.
The executives say they are planning to expand within the six states where the chain currently operates--Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.
The company is opening at least 30 stores in 2015.
Sheetz will open a new-concept convenience store and restaurant for students of West Virginia University (WVU) and locals of Morgantown at University Place, a new student apartment and retail complex. The company may expand the concept to other college towns, it said when it announced the store in April 2014.
It will be the first location for Sheetz featuring the fuel-free concept with a complete focus on the food and beverage offerings.
More than two years in development, this experience will allow customers to engage with Sheetz in another way, showing Sheetz passion for food and a devotion to innovation and excellence, the executives said. Every detail of the space will give customers a new way to enjoy Sheetz food and grocery offerings and provide locals and students a new way to shop, live and socialize.
The 15,000-square-foot grocery store and café concept will serve as the first retailer to offer grocery options in the downtown Morgantown area in several years. Sheetz at University Place will triple the size of a typical Sheetz store and will provide indoor and outdoor seating for 100 people.
In addition to the grand opening, Sheetz is offering a $10,000 dollar scholarship to one full or part-time West Virginia University student; it will select 10 finalists and will announce the winner on March 7 at the WVU vs. Oklahoma State University (OSU) football game.
Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz has more than $6.9 billion in revenue and more than 16,000 employees. The company operates 500 convenience stores throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.
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