What's In Store: Yesway, QuickChek & Stripes
NATIONAL REPORT — The convenience store industry landscape is constantly changing as chains open and close stores each week. On a regular basis, Convenience Store News highlights these comings and goings in this special roundup.
CEFCO Convenience Stores
Texas-based retailer CEFCO Convenience Stores opened its sixth location in the Florida panhandle in mid-December. The store in Milton is the 29th, 5,500 square foot, newly constructed location that CEFCO has opened over the past several years, and the eighth in 2016.
It offers the retailer's latest hot and cold "Fresh Eats" grab-n-go offerings, including its "Fresh Yo" self-service frozen yogurt concept. It also includes CEFCO's sixth Which Wich quick-service restaurant.
CEFCO also opened a new store in Gilmer, Texas. It is the 28th 5,500-square-foot location opened over the past few years and the seventh in 2016. Like the new store in Milton, it offers the retailer's "Fresh Eats" grab-n-go offerings and its "Fresh Yo" concept. It also boasts a Which Wich location.
Cumberland Farms
The Cumberland Farms gas station on South Broadway in Salem, N.H., debuted a new look when the store celebrated its remodel this fall. The transformation is part of the retailer's national remodel effort spanning its locations in New England, New York and Florida. These stores are typically larger and brighter with expanded offerings, including a café-style counter near the prepared foods.
The razing and then rebuilding of the newly remodeled 4,786-square-foot Salem location began in the spring. It is open 24 a hours day, seven days a week. It features an outdoor patio.
Express Mart Convenience Stores
Express Mart Convenience Stores opened a new location in Seneca Falls, N.Y., in early November. The convenience store offers Sunoco fuel and features a laundromat, and a beer cave that includes local and regional craft beer. Located at 2180 Route 20 next to the Erie Canal, the store is open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Kum & Go LC
West Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go welcomed customers at its latest convenience store in its hometown on Nov. 3. At more than 6,200 square feet, the Marketplace store design showcases an expanded and open food preparation area that customers can see from the moment they enter.
Other location features include Go Fresh Market, clear aisles and easy-to-navigate zones, seating inside with heated patio seating outside, free Wi-Fi and charging stations, and energy efficient and sustainable design practices.
"This new footprint represents everything that Kum & Go strives to be for our associates and for our customers," said Kum & Go President and CEO Kyle J. Krause. "This is the evolution of our brand promise and business approach. Now customers can truly experience the 'more' that we provide."
Kum & Go also opened a roughly 6,200-square-foot Marketplace location in West Des Moines on Dec. 1.
QuickChek Corp.
QuickChek opened its newest store in Bordentown, N.J., in November.
The 5,496-square-foot store at the Rivergate Bordentown Waterfront is open 24 hours a day. Amenities include no-fee ATMs; six gasoline pumps offering high-quality fuel; and 43 parking spaces. The new store creates 45 new local jobs, including eight management positions.
In addition to its renowned coffee wall, the new store features baristas who custom make more than 60 varieties of handcrafted hot and iced cold drinks, including blended-to-order fruit smoothies and fresh-brewed espressos made with QuickChek's Dark Roast espresso beans in regular, decaf and extra shots.
New handcrafted menu items include nine varieties of English muffin breakfast sandwiches and 10 varieties of honey butter biscuit sandwiches. Signature soups include Thanksgiving Everyday, Pumpkin Spice Bisque, Steak and Ale, and Sweet Potato & Corn Chowder.
Rutter's Farm Stores
Rutter's continued to grow its footprint, cutting the ribbon in its Strasburg, Pa., convenience stores on Nov. 16. The c-store is theYork, Pa.-based retailer's 66th location, and fourth in Lancaster County. The store will add 50 new jobs.
This location is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. There are 12 auto fueling stations and three stations dedicated to high-speed truck diesel. The Strasburg location features Rutter’s espresso bar and beverage center, which serves hand-crafted beverages such as tea smoothies, frappes, and lattes.
The location also boasts a beer cave with a selection of domestic, import, and craft beers and ciders.
Stripes Convenience Stores
Stripes Convenience Stores cut the ribbon on its newest location in Laredo, Texas, on Dec. 9. The store features Laredo Taco Co. and 16 Valero fuel dispenser options that include unleaded, super unleaded and diesel.
This c-store features a dining area that seats 30, "the beer super cooler," "the wall" for customers to customize their cool with more than 1.2 billion possible fountain combinations, as well as 6,000 square feet customer conveniences.
Wawa Inc.
Wawa Inc. opened its first convenience store in Essex County, N.J. The store threw open its doors on Dec. 16 in Maplewood. The store is part of the retailer's strategy to grow in northern New Jersey.
Yesway
Convenience store chain Yesway held grand openings for four Ottumwa, Iowa, stores and one Centerville, Iowa, store on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12.
"We envision this as the start of a long-standing partnership with the citizens of Ottumwa, and we look forward to delivering terrific customer service to everyone who visits our stores," said Brian Trout, Yesway's senior vice president of operations. "We promise to serve quality food, good coffee and competitively priced fuel, and to make life easier and each day a bit more pleasant for the people in the community."