What's In Store: Kum & Go, Love's & Sheetz

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 opened its fourth Florida Panhandle store, located in Fort Walton Beach. This latest opening represents the 25th, 5,500-square-foot prototype convenience store the retailer has opened over the past several years, and the fourth to date in 2016. The store features hot and cold Fresh Eats grab-and-go offerings, the Fresh Yo self-service frozen yogurt concept, and CEFCO's third Which Wich quick-service restaurant location.

Kum & Go LC

Kum & Go welcomed customers to its newly built location in Waukee, Iowa. The 6,200-square-foot store is the first retail outlet to open in Waukee's multi-use Kettlestone development.

The store reflects Kum & Go's new prototype design, unveiled earlier this year in Johnston, Iowa. Features of the new Waukee store include a Go Fresh Market, open kitchen layout, indoor seating with heated outdoor patio, free Wi-Fi and charging stations, and a beer cave and growler station. 

"We're proud to be early supporters of the innovative Kettlestone project, and excited to be the first to open a storefront to meet the needs of residents and visitors to the area," said Kum & Go President and CEO Kyle J. Krause. "This new footprint is the evolution of our brand promise and business approach. Now, customers can truly experience the 'more' that we provide."

Kum & Go also cut the ribbon on a new store in Springfield, Mo. The more than 6,200-square-foot Marketplace design prototype features a Go Fresh Market, an open kitchen layout, inside seating and heated patio seating, free Wi-Fi and charging stations, and a beer cave.

Both locations were designed for LEED-certified status, using energy efficient and sustainable design practices.

Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores  

Love's opened for business along Interstate 84 in Boardman, Ore. The chain's new 11,000-square-foot facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and offers 95 truck-parking spaces, seven showers, a Love's Truck Tire Care facility, RFID cardless fueling, CAT scales and other driver services. Foodservice offerings include gourmet coffee, fresh fruit, and Carl's Jr. and Green Burrito restaurants.

The retailer also opened Love's Travel Stops along Interstate 81 in Meadowview, Va., and along Interstate 10 in Tolleson, Ariz. These sites each feature RFID cardless fueling, Love's Truck Tire Care centers and CAT scales. Drivers can also purchase gourmet coffee, fresh fruit, gift items and name-brand electronics at both locations.

The Meadowview location has 72 truck parking spaces, five showers, and Subway and McDonald's restaurants. The Tolleson location has 89 truck parking spaces, seven showers, and Subway and Carl's Jr. restaurants.

Rutter's Farm Stores 

Rutter's welcomed customers to its latest store in Mifflintown, Pa. The location, which opened July 20 and will have an official grand opening on Aug. 4, brings Rutter's store count to 63. The c-store features an espresso bar beverage center, a 30-seat dining room, free Wi-Fi, 14 fueling positions and four dedicated bays for high-speed diesel fueling. 

Sheetz Inc.

Sheetz pulled a hat trick plus one, opening four new c-stores in four states in one week. 

The retailer kicked off the ribbon-cutting spree with a new location in Morgantown, W.Va., on June 29. The next day, it opened two more stores, one in Morrisville, N.C. and the other in St. Clairsville, Ohio. The chain rounded out the four-store, four-state feat when it threw open the doors of a new location in Bethel, Pa., on July 7.

Combined, the four stores bring 104 new full- and part-time jobs to West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Ohio.

Thorntons Inc.

Thorntons cut the ribbon on a new store in Elmhurst, Ill., on July 15. The location features the retailer's Kitchen foodservice concept, which provided samples of its offerings during the first 10 days the store was open.

On the forecourt in Elmhurst, Thorntons offers Unleaded15, its new branded E15 fueling option. 

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