New Convenience-Store Roundup for November 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 November 2021.

Texas topped the ranking for the month, with four sites, while Kentucky, New Jersey and South Carolina were among states that followed closely with three stores each.

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.

Tri-Star Energy opened a new Twice Daily convenience store White Bison Coffee location in Huntsville, Ala., on Nov. 30. In addition to traditional convenience items, Twice Daily’s premium 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 a beer cave. The White Bison Coffee concept offers handcrafted specialty coffee drinks and features drip coffee, single-origin pour-over coffees, cold brew, nitro coffee, hot and cold espresso beverages, seasonal drinks and more. Customers can also buy freshly baked pastries and handmade breakfast and lunch items, including sandwiches, salads and Bistro snack boxes. It also features a drive-thru window.

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.

Casey’s opened a new c-store in Springdale, Ark., on Nov. 4.

Big Red Store opened a new c-store in Saline County, Ark., on Nov. 12.

Net new stores: 2

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain opened Rocktane Gas & Smoke, a new gas station and drive-thru smoke shop, in Sacramento, Calif., on Nov. 19. The site occupies 45,000 square feet including a 4,100-square-foot c-store and smoke shop, as well as eight double-pumps for a total of 16 handles to dispense gas and diesel. The pumps feature Hard Rock-style lighting effects and LED TVs, allowing for the broadcast of music videos and commercials. Rocktane Gas & Smoke is the prototype for similar amenities at Hard Rock International properties world-wide. The facility and casino concert venue will also serve the community during emergencies, such as wildfires, in the area.

Net new stores: 1

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Milton, Fla., located off Interstate 70, on Nov. 18. The site has eight diesel bays; 88 truck, 85 car and four RV parking spaces; a CAT scale; a Speedco facility; and a dog park. The more than 12,000-square-foot facility features Arby’s restaurant, the chain’s proprietary Fresh Kitchen concept and bean-to-cup coffee. It also has eight showers; laundry facilities; and a Mobile to Go Zone with the latest GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories.

Wawa opened a new c-store in St. Augustine, Fla., on Nov. 18.

Net new stores: 2

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Garden City, Ga., located off Interstate 70, on Nov. 18. The site has eight diesel bays; 97 truck, 63 car and three RV parking spaces; a CAT scale; and a dog park. The more than 12,000-square-foot facility features Hardee’s restaurant, the chain’s proprietary Fresh Kitchen concept and bean-to-cup coffee. It also has six showers; laundry facilities; and a Mobile to Go Zone with the latest GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories.

Paul Nair, founder of Savi Provisions, opened a new-concept c-store, UPop (Urban Provisions Offering Petroleum), in a new ARCO gas station in Atlanta in November. It offers chef-driven prepared foods, beer, wine and liquor. It will also include a bistro offering small plates. “This will be a higher-end experience, said Nair. “We are intentionally not using traditional convenience-store items or big-name brands. The goal is to offer a highly curated selection.”

Net new stores: 2

Thorntons opened a new c-store in McHenry, Ill., on Nov. 5. This new “pump-and-go” location offers a variety of features including self-checkout, LED lighting, burritos and sandwiches prepared throughout the day in the store’s onsite kitchen, beverages, including fresh bean-to-cup coffee and fountain beverages with nugget ice, a rear diesel island, limited overnight truck parking and the new Pro Driver rewards program for professional drivers.

Delta Sonic opened a new c-store and car wash in Oswego, Ill., on Nov. 12.

Net new stores: 2

Kwik Trip opened a new Kwik Star c-store in Sheldon, Iowa, on Nov. 4.

Sparky’s One Stop Truck Stop in Rockwell City, Iowa, closed in late November after a fire on Nov. 23.

Net new stores: 0

Casey’s opened a new c-store in Lenexa, Kan., on Nov. 30.

Net new stores: 1

Farm Stores opened a new drive-thru c-store in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 2.

United Dairy Farmers opened a new c-store in Taylor Mill, Ky., on Nov. 13.

RaceTrac opened a new c-store in Elizabethtown, Ky., its first location in the Bluegrass State, on Nov. 18. The 6,000-square-foot store features scales, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) at the pump, 16 truck lanes, fried chicken and more.

Net new stores: 3

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Bates City, Mo., located off Interstate 70, on Nov. 11. The site has eight diesel bays; 107 truck, 76 car and five RV parking spaces; a CAT scale; and a dog park. The more than 13,000-square-foot facility features Chester’s Chicken, Godfather’s Pizza and Subway restaurants, the chain’s proprietary Fresh Kitchen concept and bean-to-cup coffee. It also has seven showers; laundry facilities; and a Mobile to Go Zone with the latest GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories.

Net new stores: 1

Wawa opened a new c-store in Jefferson, N.J., on Nov. 3. It also opened two more stores, in Brick, N.J., and Pennsauken, N.J., in mid-November.

Net new stores: 3

Lucky Seven Mini Mart opened Nov. 1 in Auburn, N.Y., at the site of a former 7-Eleven that was open from 2012 to 2018 and which closed as a result of 7-Eleven’s acquisition of Sunoco, which has a nearby location. The c-store features a coffee bar, smoke shop and cold prepared foods such as subs, as well as clothing. The store will add hot foods and beer once it obtains the necessary licenses.

Net new stores: 1

Sheetz opened a new c-store in Cameron, N.C., on Nov. 18.

Net new stores: 1

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Bellefontaine, Ohio, located off Interstate 70, on Nov. 18. The site has eight diesel bays; 126 truck, 55 car and seven RV parking spaces; a CAT scale; and a dog park. The more than 13,000-square-foot facility features Hardee’s restaurant, the chain’s proprietary Fresh Kitchen concept and bean-to-cup coffee. It also has eight showers; laundry facilities; and a Mobile to Go Zone with the latest GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories.

Net new stores: 1

Truckers Village, a large truckstop along Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City, closed in November.

Net new stores: -1

Wawa opened a new c-store in Philadelphia on Nov. 5. It features self-checkout kiosks.

Net new stores: 1

Refuel opened a new Refuel market c-store in Charleston, S.C.’s Point Hope community on Nov. 18. It features the chain's proprietary Hot N’ Crispy Chicken recipe, freshly prepared on-site along with other offerings, including boiled peanuts, bean-to-cup coffee, bottled wines and a beer cave. The store features self-checkout stations, and it also has an outdoor seating area. The site offers multiple fueling stations dispensing Exxon-branded gasoline. The company alsoopened a new Refuel Market c-store in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Nov. 19. The fresh-food menu features the Hot N’ Crispy Chicken recipe, freshly prepared on site along with other offerings. It also offers bean-to-cup coffee, and a selection of bottled wines as well as a beer cave. The store features multiple fueling stations dispensing Shell-brand gasoline. It has an outdoor seating area, where customers of legal drinking age can consume beer and wine purchased at the store. Self-checkout stations are also available.

Shiv Patel opened a new c-store in Columbia, S.C., across from the YOUnion student apartment complex near the University of South Carolina, on Nov. 19. His brother, Bakul Patel, will run Patel Convenience The store has a wide variety of products including beer and other drinks, snacks and vapes with wine coming soon.

Net new stores: 3

CEFCO opened a new c-store in Robinson, Texas, on Nov. 4. The CEFCO Kitchen offers tacos, as well as hand-breaded fried chicken, kolaches, pizza, breakfast sandwiches and more. This location has 33 parking spaces and a square footage of 4,232 square feet on nearly three-and-a-half acres. It features eight multi-pump dispensers that include ethanol-free fuel as well as diesel. Additionally, this location has three large truck fueling lanes. The company also opened a new c-store in Lampasas, Texas, on Nov. 11. The CEFCO Kitchen offers made-to-order burritos, tacos and bowls, as well as hand-breaded fried chicken, pizza, breakfast sandwiches and more. This location has 47 parking spaces and a square footage of 6,054 square feet on more than three-and-a-half acres. It features eight multi-pump dispensers that include ethanol-free fuel as well as diesel. It has three large truck fueling lanes.

A new 7-Eleven c-store opened in New Braunfels, Texas, on Nov. 15.

A new c-store opened in Nederland, Texas, in mid-November. The indoor area of the Shell station has coolers for drinks, craft beer and a wine section. It also features a GW Gyro & Wings.

Net new stores: 4

Par Mar Stores opened a new c-store in Clay County, W.Va., on Nov. 12.

Net new stores: 1

Kwik Trip opened a new c-store in West Bend, Wis., on Nov. 17. The store measures 7,000 square feet with a 2,100-square-foot attached car wash.

Net new stores: 1

NEW STORES OPENED IN NOVEMBER 2021: 31

STORES CLOSED IN NOVEMBER 2021: 2

NET NEW STORES IN NOVEMBER 2021: 29

TOTAL NET NEW STORES IN 2021: 240

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.