What's In Store: CEFCO, Terrible Herbst & Wawa
NATIONAL REPORT — The convenience store industry landscape is constantly changing as chains open and close stores each week. On a regular basis, Convenience Store News highlights these comings and goings in this special roundup.
CEFCO Convenience Stores
CEFCO welcomed customers to its newly remodeled c-store in Austin, Texas. The site is the company's 17th 5,000-square-foot prototype. It also marked the first prototype store CEFCO opened this year.
The location reflects the latest design for the next generation, and offers customers a great shopping experience, according to the retailer. The remodeled store incorporates a number of innovative enhancements made possible by an open, fresh design, modern treatments and upgraded finishes.
"We invite the public to visit this remodeled CEFCO location and be treated to an exciting shopping experience, unmatched by any other local convenience retailer," said Brett Giesick, CEFCO's chief retail officer. "We believe the enhancements built into this site reflect our core values of providing the best customer experience, for every customer, every day."
Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
Love's opened its second location in South Dakota on March 19. The new Love's in Box Elder is situated off Interstate 90.
At the new site, professional drivers have 24-hour access to snacks, gourmet coffee, a Hardee's restaurant, electronics, gift merchandise, a game room, RFID cardless fueling, CAT scales, and more. The facility has 74 truck-parking spaces, seven showers and a Love's Truck Tire Care center.
"We're happy to provide services to drivers in a new part of the country," said Greg Love, co-CEO of Love's. "The new Love's is in a heavily traveled part of South Dakota, and we're happy to offer the 'Clean Places, Friendly Faces' that Love's is known for in another area."
Terrible Herbst
In early March, Las Vegas-based Terrible Herbst celebrated the grand opening of its most recent convenience store/gas station combination with a full-service car wash. The new site is located at 11330 Southern Highlands Parkway in Las Vegas.
The Terrible Herbst car wash provides a variety of services including full service and exterior car washes. It has a customer lounge with free Wi-Fi. Customers who purchase car washes at the gas pump receive an additional 20-cent-per-gallon fuel discount.
TravelCenters of America LLC
TravelCenters, operator of the TA and Petro Stopping Centers travel center brands, opened a newly built TA Truck Service facility located on Interstate 80 in Brooklyn, Iowa. This truck service repair facility offers four service bays and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Trained ASE- and TIA-certified technicians are on staff at this location and throughout the TA Truck Service and Petro:Lube network. The network specializes in providing light-duty repair, brakes, electrical, alignment, air conditioning, preventive maintenance, inspections and RoadSquad emergency road call services.
"This latest addition of truck service capacity brings the total number of our truck stops with truck service bays to 239, by far the largest business of its kind in our industry," said Tom O’Brien, president and CEO of TravelCenters. "In addition, our comprehensive array of services, highly skilled professional technicians and world-class training make TA and Petro truck service something truly remarkable in terms of quality and delivery of customer service."
Wawa Inc.
Wawa continues to expand its footprint in the Mid-Atlantic region. The retailer opened its third location in Newport News, Va., in late March.
The new $5-million Wawa facility includes a 5,300-square-foot convenience store and eight fueling stations. The latest Newport News location also offers Wawa favorites like its coffee selection, new line of specialty beverages and built-to-order hoagie counter. The store is located in one of the hottest retail corridors on the Virginia Peninsula.
In addition, Wawa celebrated the April 17 grand opening for its new c-store in Garfield, N.J. The store features the retailer's new kitchen concept with expanded food and beverage areas. The Garfield location is part of Wawa's push into northern New Jersey. The chain previously had been a fixture only in the southern part of the state.