Parker's Introduces Drive-Thru Concept
SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Parker Cos. opened its first store with a drive-thru this week at 1588 Brampton Ave. in Statesboro, Ga. It is the 36th Parker's convenience store in the Georgia and South Carolina area.
An official ribbon-cutting hosted by the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce was held to welcome local officials and the public.
"It's a beautiful store, with a great Parker's team there led by our seasoned store manager Jessica Teegarden," stated Parker Cos. President and CEO Greg Parker. "We're excited to be opening our fourth store in the city of Statesboro in the growing Bulloch County area."
The newest Statesboro store features drive-thru service for the majority of the products offered in-store. The concept is new to Parker's and is the first drive-thru in the region for c-stores, according to Chief Marketing Officer Brandon Hofmann.
"We're opening with an immediate 10-cents-per-gallon discount on all fuel types across Statesboro, which offers our Parker's PumpPal card program," said Greg Parker. "Our PumpPal debit card provides consumers with discounts through the elimination of credit card processing fees."
Nearly 83,000 PumpPal cards have been registered in the area since the program was launched.
The new store, which cost nearly $3 million to build, features wide-open aisles; a 24-valve fountain for soft drinks with Chewy Ice; 12 fueling positions; a landscaped exterior; tiled bathrooms that serve as a Parker's trademark; a beer cave; an extensive line of electronic cigarettes; Parker's signature gourmet coffee bar with a selection of fresh milk and creamers; plus sweet tea, lemonade and frozen yogurt.
At the fuel pump, in addition to Parker's standard line of regular, mid-grade and premium fuels that includes 10 percent ethanol, the new store also offers diesel fuel and non-ethanol fuel -– a favorite of boat owners, the company said.
"Non-ethanol fuel increases the efficiency of boat motors and extends motor life," according to Amy Lane, Parker's chief operating officer. The store parking lot design will provide marine customers towing boats with easy in and out access, she added.