Circle K Breaks Ground on New Prototype

SAN JACINTO, Calif. -- Monday marked the beginning of a new era for Circle K Stores Inc. as the retailer put shovel to dirt and broke ground on its new prototype store in Southern California.

The 4,500-square-foot convenience store will rise at the corner of Sanderson and Esplanade avenues in San Jacinto. The c-store will feature a Mobil gas station with eight fuel pumps and a self-serve car wash.

The new Circle K building will be the first phase of Esplanade Commons, a 90,000-square-foot, mixed-use shopping center development planned by Southland Development Co. of San Juan Capistrano and RoBott Land Co. of Beverly Hills, according to The Press Enterprise.

John Guell, president and founder of Southland, said his company is talking to other retailers to join Circle K/Mobil at the shopping center.

San Jacinto City Manager Tim Hults said in a prepared statement that he and the city's residents are pleased that Circle K chose San Jacinto to debut its new flagship, the first in Southern California. Circle K/Mobil will be the first convenience store and gas station on the city's west side, the news outlet reported.

The San Jacinto City Council approved plans for the new c-store in early November.

Circle K is a division of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.