What's In Store: Openings & Closings
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.
Here are the latest company spotlights:
Consumers Petroleum
CITGO marketer Consumers Petroleum celebrated the grand opening of its newest Wheels location in Fairfield, Conn., with a local event featuring Fairfield’s First Selectman Michael Tetreau and deejays from WEBE 108 FM. The opening also included a dunk tank where customers had the opportunity to dunk a WEBE 108 FM staff member or Adam and Diego of the CITGO Fueling Good Road Trip, with proceeds benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
There were numerous raffle and prize wheel giveaways including CITGO gas cards, a day at Lyme Rock racetrack with Rich Wiehl, New York Yankees tickets, an autographed New England Patriots football and more. Additionally, Consumers and Wheels offered “Wheels Deals” on food from Blimpie’s and Nathans for under $3, as well as snack and beverage tastings.
Hy-Vee Inc.
A new Hy-Vee Gas store, at 1030 W. 25th St. in South Sioux City, Neb., is set to open July 16, offering a small selection of grocery store items along with the traditional convenience fare of soda, candy and more, according to the Dakota County Star. There will be eight pumps installed, with a total of 16 fueling stations.
This Hy-Vee Gas store project has been in negotiations for the past year. Along with the groundbreaking of the new 3100-square-foot facility comes many benefits for the city of South Sioux City, including new jobs and a new filling station along Highway 77, the report stated.
“The convenience store will hopefully bring in some new opportunities because we are going to be open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.," Tom Boubin, Hy-Vee general manager, told the news outlet. “My goal is to have two bodies at the convenience store at all times, so it will bring about 12 new jobs “
Pilot Flying J
A new Pilot Travel Center opened in San Antonio, adding 40 jobs to the area, Fleetowner.com reported. The facility is Pilot Flying J's 39th in Texas and the 660th overall.
Located off Interstate 37 at exit 125 at 4105 Loop 1604, the travel center offers eight diesel lanes and 12 gasoline lanes, with high-speed pumps for quicker refueling; two fueling lanes and bulk propane for RVs; a Subway and Cinnabon; expanded food offerings, including pizza, soup, salads, sandwiches and hot dogs; premium coffee and cappuccino selections; and more.
QuikTrip Corp.
QuikTrip will expand its market area to Muskogee, Okla., by building its first location in the city at the southwest corner of Shawnee Road and Highway 69, according to a KJRH.com report. The new location is expected bring roughly 15 to 18 jobs to Muskogee.
Quik Trip purchased the land for $826,596 from the city and is now under contract. If all goes according to plan, the location will open in fall or winter 2014.
Muskogee Mayor Bob Coburn said bringing QuikTrip to the area was a joint effort between the Tulsa, Okla.-based convenience store chain, city staff and councilors, county commissioners and the City of Muskogee Foundation.
Sheetz Inc.
New Sheetz convenience stores are going to be built in Burnham and Reedsville, Pa., a company official told members of the Lewistown Rotary Club on Tuesday, according to the Lewiston Sentinel. Sheetz Inc. already operates stores in Lewistown and Mifflintown, Pa., as well as in 429 other locations in six states.
There have been a number of delays with the Burnham site since the company purchased the land in 2008, Joe Sheetz, executive vice president of finance and real estate for Sheetz,. told the newspaper. "As we stand right now, the bank is going to work through the deal within the next couple of weeks so we can get them to sign the permit with us," he said. "Hopefully, we can start construction within the next year."
Construction in Reedsville is scheduled to begin once a current traffic study determining the need for a stop light is completed. It's possible that the Reedsville location will be completed before the Burnham location, according to Sheetz.
TravelCenters of America LLC
TravelCenters of America, operator of the TA and Petro Stopping Centers brands, announced its acquisition and rebranding of the only travel center in the state of Rhode Island. The newest TA travel center is located in West Greenwich, at Interstate 94, Exit 5B (849 Victory Highway).
The location’s amenities include 200 truck parking spaces on a spacious, well-lit parking lot; six diesel lanes; a travel store; five showers; a full-service restaurant; emergency roadside service available 24/7/365; and an UltraONE Rewards Program kiosk and swiping system.
This TA travel center also offers a variety of other full-service professional driver amenities, such as Wi-Fi, a weigh scale, ATM, check cashing and TripPak services.