New Lil' Mart Concept Taps Into Convenient Trends

WISCASSET, Maine. -- A new convenience store concept opened on Route 1 here recently that represents a growing trend in the convenience store industry, according to a report by area television station WCSH6.

The location was opened by Priority Group of Topsham though a partnership with Nouria Energy of Massachusetts, owners of the "Lil' Mart" chain. The location includes three businesses: A "Lil' Mart" convenience store and car wash, a McDonald's and The First Federal Savings Bank, according to the report.

The partners plan to build seven similar developments around the state, and told the station this sort of complex represents a growing trend for convenience stores around the country.

"We are not a gasoline station any more, we are a convenience location," Tony El-Nemr, owner of Nouris Energy, said in the report. "Our customer looks for convenience. We try to make it one stop shop instead of only gasoline and going somewhere else to get other items."

Jim Howard, CEO of Priority Group, detailed the venture's expansion plans.

"We're going to Hollis, we're going to Winslow, we're going to Rockland. We're going to Sanford and the rest of the sites we're still working on securing," he said in the report, noting the Wiscasset project cost $4.4 million dollars, and is providing 50 new jobs.