QuikTrip's Carolinas Division Opens 50th Store

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – QuikTrip Corp. opened the 50th store in its Carolinas Division this week, nearly three years after it launched its expansion into North and South Carolina, reported the Spartanburg Herald Journal. The milestone store is located in Charlotte, N.C.

This marks QuikTrip's fastest-ever growth in a new market. "For us, that type of growth has never happened in a new marketplace," stated company spokesman Mike Thornbrugh. "It's phenomenal. And we're not done [expanding our footprint and offerings within existing stores]. It's going to be ongoing."

In comparison, it took QuikTrip 10 years to reach 50 stores in Atlanta, seven years in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and six years in Arizona.

The quick growth in the Carolinas came from a "perfect storm" of city and county governments that were willing to work with the Tulsa, Okla.-based company, along with an eager, enthusiastic customer base, Thornbrugh told the news outlet.

Seven more stores are currently under construction in the region, and the company is continuing to roll out more fresh, healthy food options at existing stores through its QT Kitchens concept, as CSNews Online previously reported.

Each store represents a $4-million investment. In total, the QuikTrip stores have added approximately 500 jobs in South Carolina, according to the report.

"There's a lot of good competition out there," Thornbrugh said. "We're getting better and better. … This is a fantastic market. We're still building at lightning speed."