New Convenience-Store Roundup for February 2019
By Greg Lindenberg on Mar. 03, 2019CHICAGO — This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new c-store openings, closings and more for the month of February 2019.
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. convenience stores, gas stations, truckstops and travel centers not previously reported in CSP Daily News.
- 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 M&A activity.
Many of the stores listed here are owned by independent operators, while others belong to major chains. Many are part of CSP’s Top 202 list of c-store chains by size (and see the new Top 40 update). Some of the owners and operators are new entrepreneurs, and some are industry veterans.
Unless otherwise mentioned, the new locations offer the food, snacks, beverages, tobacco, merchandise, services and amenities found in most c-stores. Most offer fuel.
Click through for a state-by-state breakdown …
Florida
Cumberland Farms opened a new c-store in Melbourne, Fla., on Feb. 27.
Net new stores*: 1
*Represents 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. It also does not include store openings previously reported in CSP Daily News.
Kentucky
Houchens Industries Inc.’s Jr. Food Store in Bowling Green, Ky., closed its doors Feb. 15.
Net new stores: -1
Louisiana
The Roundabout c-store and Exxon gas station opened in Duson, La., in mid-February.
Net new stores: 1
Maryland
Minnesota
Lakeside Travel Plaza, which includes a gas station, convenience store, Caribou Coffee and Godfather’s Pizza drive-thru, opened Feb. 19 in Worthington, Minn.
Net new stores: 1
Missouri
New Jersey
QuickChek opened a new, 5,496-square-foot c-store in Manalapan, N.J., on Feb. 5. The concept store features the company's Fresh to Go design to meet the needs of the fast-casual shopper, with more than 50% of the store dedicated to fresh food and beverages. The store offers indoor seating for 11 people and outdoor seating for eight, plus 10 fueling positions and 53 parking spaces.
Royal Farms opened a new c-store in Clementon, N.J., on Feb. 25; it opened another c-store in Gloucester Township, N.J., in late February.
Net new stores: 2
New York
The Market at West Side, a new c-store on the campus of Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, N.Y., opened on Feb. 11.
Stewart's Shops closed a c-store in Troy, N.Y., on Feb. 17 because of rising costs and because the building doesn't have the space to expand its food-to-go offerings or gasoline, the company said. This is the fifth shop the company has shuttered in the past few months. Stewart's recently closed stores in Albany, Amsterdam, Ballston Lake and Voorheesville, N.Y.
After six decades, Doheny Oil, a service station in Ballston Spa, N.Y., closed its doors at the end of February. Owner Steve Doheny said that “the challenges of increased state regulations are just too aggravating and costly to deal with anymore.” He cited recent requirements for paid family leave, an increase in the minimum wage, on-call pay for last-minute shift changes, mandatory sexual harassment training and a new threshold for paid overtime. The family-run business found it "extremely difficult to keep up with all the new regulations and ‘progressive’ [New York state] agendas, increasing federal and state overregulations, paired with higher taxes, workers compensation, health and insurance costs," he said. Doheny has sold the property to Gas Land LLC, which will close the repair bays and convert the station to a c-store.
Net new stores: -1
North Carolina
Ohio
Casey's General Stores opened a new c-store in Shawnee Township, Ohio, in mid-February. The 4,800-square-foot location features 16 fuel pumps and seven types of fuel, including diesel and E85. The company has 15 stores in the state, with construction of another seven expected soon; it plans to open a dozen or so in the near future, with about 30 sites under consideration.
Net new stores: 1
Pennsylvania
Wawa opened a 5,500-square-foot c-store on Feb. 14 at the Shoppes at Wissinoming shopping center in northeastern Philadelphia.
Net new stores: 1
South Carolina
7-Eleven Inc., partnering with Applegreen USA, opened a new c-store in Lexington, S.C., on Feb. 28.
Net new stores: 1
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
7-Eleven opened a new 5,400-square-foot c-store and 16-fuel pump gas station in Purcellville, Va., on Feb. 1.
Royal Farms opened a new c-store in Chantilly, Va., on Feb. 4.
Net new stores: 2
Washington
The Bus Stop Market, a Vancouver, Wash., c-store, closed Feb. 15 after two decades of operation because the building’s owner did not want to renew the store’s lease.
Net new stores: -1
TOTAL NEW STORES FOR FEBRUARY 2019: 13
TOTAL NEW STORES FOR 2019: 35
To be sure your locations are listed in upcoming roundups, please send new-store announcements to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@winsightmedia.com.