New Convenience-Store Roundup for June 2020
By Greg Lindenberg on Jul. 07, 2020CHICAGO — This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new c-store openings, closings and more that took place in June 2020.
New-store openings as captured by CSP's count have been down considerably from typical monthly totals, likely reflecting the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to affect retail. While c-stores, as officially designated essential businesses, remain open, the uncertainly surrounding the pandemic could be leading to a pause on store expansion. But large chains appear to be continuing some expansion despite the pandemic’s drag on overall growth, and the monthly count is trending upward again.
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.
- 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 mergers-and-acquisitions 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 ranking of c-store chains by size. 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 …
Arkansas
In June, Road Ranger opened a new store in Brinkley, Ark., on Interstate 40, its first in the state. It features a completely renovated image and foodservices amenities including a Tejas Tacos, Dan’s Big Slice Pizza, Ben’s Pretzels, Road Ranger Kitchen and a Wendy's restaurant. It has 16 gas positions, eight diesel lanes, and parking for 80 cars and 81 trucks.
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.
California
The Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians opened a Pit Stop c-store in Mountain Center, Calif., on Highway 74 on June 3. It offers gasoline and diesel and features Chester’s Chicken. The Pit Stop’s name is a play on a Cahuilla word, “pit” (pronounced like the name “Pete”), the Cahuilla word for “road,” so the name means “road stop.”
Net new stores: 1
Florida
Wawa opened new c-stores in Hollywood, Fla., on June 10; Cape Coral, Fla., on June 11; Gainesville, Fla., on June 17; and Palm Coast, Fla., on June 18. The openings included social-distancing ribbon cuttings and ceremonial hoagie making, as well as local charity and first-responder donations.
Net new stores: 4
Georgia
Enmarket opened a new c-store on June 8 in Port Wentworth, Ga., at Exit 109 on Interstate 95. It is the first fueling station to bring compressed natural gas (CNG) supplied by Atlanta Gas Light to the Savannah public and provides services for truck traffic serving the Port of Savannah. The store features Enmarket’s second Fuzzy Taco Shop, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant. The store is Enmarket’s third location to offer Mooz frozen yogurt. The 5,814-square-foot c-store is a new build. The adjoining Fuzzy’s Taco is 3,960 square feet and features a full bar and outdoor seating. In addition to CNG, the location offers a variety of fuel types including an electric vehicle charging station, auto and truck diesel, DEF and ethanol-free blu. The site also offers overflow parking for diesel trucks and a backup generator.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new travel stop in Ellabell, Ga., on U.S. Highway 280, on June 18. The more than 11,400-square-foot location features 97 truck, 86 car and four RV parking spaces; nine diesel bays; an Arby’s restaurant and Fresh Kitchen foodservice concept; seven showers; laundry facilities; Mobile to Go Zone; CAT scale; a dog park; and a Love’s Truck Care with on-site Speedco facility.
Net new stores: 2
Illinois
Kentucky
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new travel stop in Oak Grove, Ky., on Interstate 24, on June 4. The 14,700-square-foot location features 101 truck, 63 car and two RV parking spaces; eight diesel bays; a Hardee’s restaurant and Fresh Kitchen foodservice concept; nine showers; laundry facilities; Mobile to Go Zone; CAT scale; two dog parks; and a Love’s Truck Care with on-site Speedco facility.
A new Zip Zone c-store and Dairy Queen opened in Louisa, Ky., on June 15.
Net new stores: 2
Maryland
Missouri
QuikTrip opened a new travel center on June 25 in Joplin, Mo., at the intersection of I-49 and I-44. In 1964, the chain opened its first store outside of Oklahoma in Joplin, and it is returning to the market 40 years after its last store there closed. A Facebook group, the Joplin QT Movement, started three years ago and was dedicated to the chain’s return to Joplin. The site has a Generation 3 store, 20 gas pumps and six diesel bays.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new travel stop in New Florence, Mo., on Interstate 70, on June 25. The 13,800-square-foot location features 89 truck, 66 car and three RV parking spaces; eight diesel bays; an Arby’s restaurant and Fresh Kitchen foodservice concept; nine showers; laundry facilities; Mobile to Go Zone; CAT scale; a dog park; and a Love’s Truck Care with on-site Speedco facility.
Net new stores: 2
New Jersey
Wawa opened new c-stores in Hazlet, N.J., on June 11 and in Springfield, N.J., on June 18. The Springfield location is the chain’s 900th location. Both openings included social-distancing ribbon cuttings and ceremonial hoagie making, as well as charity and first-responder donations.
In mid-June, 7-Eleven opened a c-store inside a new strip mall in Raritan, N.J.
QuickChek opened a new, 5,496-square-foot c-store with fuel in Byram, N.J., on June 30. It uses the company’s Fresh to Go design with an open-concept layout, more than 50% of the store dedicated to providing freshly prepared food and market items and well-spaced food displays.
Net new stores: 4
New York
Stewart’s Shops opened a new c-store in New Windsor, N.Y., in early June.
Dandy Mini Mart opened a new c-store in Elmira, N.Y., on June 2. It features a beer cave.
Byrne Dairy opened a new c-store in Geneva, N.Y., on June 10.
Hudson opened two new c-stores in LaGuardia Airport Terminal B in New York on June 13. The stores are called NYC Aglow by Hudson, inspired by the New York City skyline, and Mad Ave Market by Hudson, inspired by the golden age of advertising in the 1920s on Madison Avenue. The stores offer self-checkout capability.
Net new stores: 5
Ohio
Oklahoma
Stuckey’s opened a new travel center in Seminole, Okla., on June 22. It includes a Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins. It also features a beer cave.
Net new stores: 1
South Dakota
Tennessee
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new travel stop in Holladay, Tenn., on U.S. Highway 641, on June 25. The 16,400-square-foot location features 124 truck, 65 car and three RV parking spaces; nine diesel bays; an Arby’s restaurant and Fresh Kitchen foodservice concept; nine showers; laundry facilities; Mobile to Go Zone; CAT scale; and a dog park.
Net new stores: 1
Texas
CEFCO Convenience Stores opened a new c-store in Nolanville, Texas, on June 29. It features Fresh Yo self-service frozen yogurt and CEFCO Kitchen made-to-order burritos, bowls and tacos. This is the second store to include CEFCO Kitchen and the made-to-order concept. The store has a combined square footage of 5,998 square feet on a lot size of about two acres. It features eight multi-pump dispensers, all of which include ethanol-free fuel.
Net new stores: 1
Utah
Cedar Band Corp., owned by the Cedar Band of Paiutes, opened the Cedar Band Travel Plaza on June 12 in Cedar City, Utah, at Exit 14 on Interstate 15. The store features a big variety of cigarette brands and other tobacco products, and the plaza has a dozen Sinclair Oil fuel pumps.
Net new stores: 1
Virginia
The Dilly Dally general store and cafe in Salem, Va., opened on June 3. Lisa Garst purchased the property, which has been vacant since 2011, in October 2018 and got a historic designation for the building, built in 1910. She began renovations in May 2019. She originally scheduled it to open in April, but it was delayed by the pandemic. The store features local and Virginia-made products, including honey, flour, candles, peanuts and wine. The cafe features hot dogs, cupcakes and ice cream.
A new 7-Eleven c-store opened in Richmond, Va., on June 11. It feature the new, Southern-inspired, quick-serve chicken concept, Raise the Roost Chicken & Biscuits. “Billed as ‘chicken worth crossing the road for,’ this location is the first of its kind to open in Virginia and the second to open in the U.S., following 7-Eleven’s Manhattan Evolution Store in March,” 7-Eleven said.
Net new stores: 2
Wisconsin
Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Eau Claire, Wis., on June 25.
Net new stores: 1
NEW STORES OPENED IN JUNE 2020: 30
STORES CLOSED IN JUNE 2020: 2
NET NEW STORES FOR JUNE 2020: 28
TOTAL NET NEW STORES FOR 2020: 110
To be sure your locations are listed in upcoming roundups, please send new-store announcements and other news to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@winsightmedia.com.