Big Y Opens First Wholly Owned C-store

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Big Y Foods Inc. on Thursday will celebrate the grand opening of its first wholly owned Big Y Express Gas & Convenience Store. The Pittsfield location, at 202 West St., is adjacent to its existing Big Y World Class Market.

This will be Big Y’s second foray into the convenience channel. The first Big Y Express store opened in Lee, Mass., in 2013 as a joint venture with petroleum marketer and c-store operator F.L. Roberts & Co.

Family-owned and -operated Big Y is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England, with 63 stores throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, and more than 10,000 employees.

Within the 1,574-square-foot Pittsfield Big Y Express store, offerings will include doughnuts, pastries and fresh-baked muffins and cookies, along with fresh fruit, gourmet sandwiches, hot soups, salads, hot pizza, and snack items in convenient cup packaging.

Among the beverage options will be Green Mountain Coffee; a fresh-ground gourmet coffee machine that makes lattes and cappuccinos to order; a range of cold and hot teas; iced coffee; fountain sodas; a multiflavor soda machine; and the f’real milkshake machine.

Shoppers will also be able to purchase Big Y-label milk, bread, candy, snacks, tobacco products, lottery, ice and even propane. What's more, Big Y’s Silver Savings Club members can get a 5-cent-per-gallon discount with their membership cards.

Outside, the location has 12 gas pumps offering 87, 89 and 93 octane fuel, as well as diesel at every dispenser. Free air machines are available for tire inflation at all times.

For the opening ceremony, company representatives will cut the traditional ribbon, thus beginning a month-long celebration that will feature free products and discounts.

"We are always looking to bring our customers even more," said Big Y President and Chief Operating Officer Charles L. D'Amour, noting that this new location will "not only help our customers save on their fueling needs, but also make life easier by offering convenience items that our customers can grab on the run. This is especially important given the hectic lives and schedules we all lead."

Big Y Express "showcases our expertise in food and service, along with new fuel savings for all," D'Amour continued. 

The Pittsfield Big Y Express will be open from 5 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The Lee Big Y Express is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.