Hy-Vee Eyes Twin Cities for Ramped-Up C-stores

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee plans to include convenience stores that will serve as mini grocery stores with gas pumps as part of its expansion into the Twin Cities, reported the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

These stores would occupy 10,000 to 15,000 square feet and resemble "convenience stores on steroids" due to their grocery and prepared food offerings, which would be larger than that of an average c-store, a source told the news outlet.

The c-stores would also participate in Hy-Vee's loyalty program, which gives customers who shop at its stores fuel discounts.

The company has not stated how many locations it plans to open. Although Hy-Vee's broker, Tom Palmquist of Colliers International Minneapolis-St. Paul, recently put out a flier seeking 25 two- to three-acre sites for a "mini grocery with gas," Hy-Vee stated that the flier was not sent on its behalf, according to the report.

Outside of the Twin Cities, Hy-Vee operates stand-alone stores in the eight-state region where the grocer has a presence, said a spokeswoman for the company.