New Convenience-Store Roundup for March 2024
By Greg Lindenberg on Apr. 15, 2024This edition of CSP’s New Convenience-Store Roundup features new-to-industry (NTI) c-store openings, as well as closings, that took place in March 2024.
Colorado, Florida, Kansas, South Carolina and Texas added the most stores for the month, each with three new locations. Three stores closed in several states during the period.
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.
Click through for the state-by-state tally ...
Arkansas
Casey’s General Stores opened new convenience stores in Ozark, Arkansas, on March 5 and Clarksville, Arkansas, on March 19.
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 razed-and-rebuilt, remodeled or replacement stores, acquisitions, new ownership or temporary closings.
Colorado
Buc-ee’s opened a new location in Johnstown, Colorado, on March 18, its first in the state.
QuikTrip opened two new convenience stores in Denver on March 20 and March 22.
Net new stores: 3
Florida
Wawa opened a new 5,000-square-foot convenience store in St. Augustine, Florida, on March 1. It also opened a new c-store in Loxahatchee, Florida, on March 7.
Ware Oil & Supply opened Maddie’s, a new gas station and convenience store in Vernon, Florida, on March 7. Its deli features catfish fillets.
Net new stores: 3
Georgia
Enmarket opened its first newly constructed convenience store of 2024 on March 2 in Savannah, Georgia. It includes a 12-pump canopy with multiple fuel grades, including unleaded, midgrade, premium, nonethanol and diesel. A new Marketwash, Enmarket’s in-bay carwash brand, is situated at the east end of the property. The 6,098-square-foot convenience store features an Enmarket Eatery with a Southern-inspired menu with fresh, healthy and on-the-go offerings. Breakfast offerings include burritos, platters and fish and grits. Lunch and dinner items include daily specials, made-fresh fried chicken and tenders, pecan cobblers and sausage gravy pizza. Fresh salads, parfaits and an array of cold sandwiches and wraps are also available. This location also serves Mooz frozen yogurt, a proprietary offering that allows customers to mix flavors and add toppings, all for one set price. The beverage bar offers Bean-2-Cup coffee, Savannah Sweet Tea and dozens of fountain and frozen beverage choices.
Parker’s Cos. opened a convenience store in Bloomingdale, Georgia, on March 13.
Net new stores: 2
Idaho
Alimentation Couche-Tard opened a new Circle K convenience store in Post Falls, Idaho, on March 18. This new convenience store and gas station has a 5,200-square-foot convenience store, a 1,458-square-foot car wash, 12 fuel pumps, two high-speed diesel pumps, a propane dispenser and an RV dump and wash station.
Net new stores: 1
Illinois
Casey’s General Stores opened a new convenience store in Hinkley, Illinois, on March 14.
Gas N Wash opened a new location in Merrionette Park, Illinois, on March 28. It features a car wash, Dunkin’ Donuts and Mickey’s Gyros. It also has 10 video gaming machines.
Net new stores: 2
Iowa
Casey’s General Stores opened two new convenience stores in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on March 21 and March 26.
Net new stores: 2
Kansas
Casey’s General Stores opened new convenience stores in Herington, Kansas, on March 7, Manhattan, Kansas, on March 14 and Ulysses, Kansas, on March 19.
Net new stores: 3
Maryland
Wawa opened a new convenience store in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on March 7.
Net new stores: 1
Montana
Town Pump opened a new convenience store in Helena, Montana, on March 19. It includes The Stone House Deli, 18 fueling stations and Montana Lil’s Casino in the 12,400-square-foot space.
Maverik opened a new, 5,900-square-foot convenience store in Helena, Montana, on March 21, the retailer’s first store in the state since pulling out six years ago.
Net new stores: 2
Nebraska
Casey’s General Stores opened new convenience stores in Elm Creek, Nebraska, on March 7 and Omaha, Nebraska, on March 8.
Net new stores: 2
New Jersey
QuickChek opened a new, 4,542-square-foot convenience store in Belleville, New Jersey, on March 5. It features the chain’s new Three After 3 p.m. value menu available from 3:00 p.m. to midnight, including $1 coffee, self-serve, any size, hot or iced, including limited-time-only Mint Chip; $3 lattes, made-to-order, any size, hot or iced or frozen; and 2-for-$5 Mix & Match Snacks, including Kickin’ Chicken Wraps and Pretzel Melts. The After 3:00 p.m. menu also includes new QC Big Bites, such as Barbacoa Beef Burrito, Chicken Fajita Burrito and Meatlover’s Stromboli.Also, 2-for-$5 Mix & Match Breakfasts including English Muffin Breakfast Sandwiches and Breakfast Empanadas are available from 5:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. every day.
Net new stores: 1
New York
Mirabito Convenience Stores opened a new location in Parish, New York, on Interstate 81 on March 6.
Net new stores: 1
North Carolina
Sheetz opened a new convenience store in Granite Falls, North Carolina, on March 28.
Net new stores: 1
Ohio
Sheetz opened a new convenience store in Fairborn, Ohio, on March 5.
Casey’s General Stores opened a new convenience store in Huber Heights, Ohio, on March 21.
Net new stores: 2
Oklahoma
Casey’s General Stores opened new convenience stores in Okema, Oklahoma and Oklahoma City, both on March 22.
Net new stores: 2
Pennsylvania
Rutter’s opened a new, 10,250-square-foot convenience store, with 14 auto-fueling positions and six commercial fueling lanes, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on March 5. The store features a 29-degree beer cave, wine and Spiked Slushies, along with video gaming terminals in Rutter’s Gaming Room, for those 21 years and older. The location offers Top Tier certified gasoline, Supreme 93 gasoline and premium diesel. The store has the traditional grades of gasoline, along with ethanol free, unleaded 15 and flex fuel. The forecourt offers premium auto diesel, kerosene and off-road diesel. For commercial drivers, high-speed truck diesel and in-lane diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is available.
Wawa closed a convenience store in March in Philadelphia’s Spring Garden neighborhood after its lease was not renewed.
Net new stores: 0
South Carolina
Refuel Operating Co. opened a new Refuel gas station and convenience store in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on March 12.
Parker’s Cos. opened its first convenience store in Aiken, South Carolina, on March 15. It offers 16 fueling positions with unleaded, premium unleaded and ethanol-free fuel. The store is designed with Lowcountry-inspired architecture. It features the chain’s signature menu and indoor dining. The retailer also opened a new c-store in Charleston, South Carolina, on March 27.
Net new stores: 3
Texas
QuikTrip opened a new convenience store in Amarillo, Texas, on March 7. It also opened a new travel center in Laredo, Texas, on March 28. The Laredo site is farther south than any of the company’s other travel centers. It is on a larger lot, with room for 16 cars for gas and 10 diesel bays for trucks. And it has a more spacious store, at approximately 8,000 square feet, than a traditional QuikTrip travel center or c-store. The location also has an expanded QT Kitchens that offers fresh-to-order food and beverages.
Jay Petroleum opened a new Pak-a-Sak convenience store and Phillips 66 gas station in Lubbock, Texas, on March 13.
Jefferson Bodega, a community-focused convenience store in San Antonio, Texas, closed on March 27. “As life’s ever-turning wheel spins onward, we find ourselves drawn to new horizons and fresh challenges. It’s with both excitement and a touch of nostalgia that we announce the closure of Bodega. While this chapter may be drawing to a close, the memories we’ve created together will forever remain etched in our hearts,” the owners, “Bodega Man” and “BodegaMa” announced on Instagram. Luke and Lisa Horgan opened the store in 2019.
La Pasadita Convenience Store opened in Edinburg, Texas, on March 27. It features tacos, check cashing, ATM, lottery and has a smoke shop.
Net new stores: 3
Wisconsin
Kwik Trip opened a new convenience store in Wausau, Wisconsin, on March 7.
Urban grocer and convenience-store retailer Go Grocer opened its second Wisconsin store in downtown Milwaukee on March 13. The 2,400-square-foot store is in the city’s Brewery District. The retailer focuses on grocery essentials, freshly made grab-and-go items, locally sourced products and alcohol products.
Net new stores: 2
Wyoming
A USA Gasoline gas station and convenience store in Casper, Wyoming, owned by 7-Eleven, closed on March 19, according to a notice issued to employees. USA Gasoline was formerly owned by Tesoro, which was acquired by Marathon Petroleum, which had been rebranding USA Gasoline stores to its Speedway brand before selling their stores to 7-Eleven Inc.
Net new stores: -1
NEW STORES OPENED IN MARCH 2024: 40
STORES CLOSED IN MARCH 2024: 3
NET NEW STORES IN MARCH 2024: 37
TOTAL NET NEW STORES IN 2024: 90
To be sure your locations are listed in upcoming roundups, please send new-store announcements and other news to Greg Lindenberg at greg.lindenberg@informa.com