What's In Store: Openings & Closings

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.

Here are the latest company spotlights:

Giant Eagle Inc.
Giant Eagle opened two new GetGo convenience stores near the campus of The Ohio State University. Both stores opened in recently shuttered 7-Eleven locations at 352 West Lane Ave. and 1551 North High St., and the openings were timed with move-in weekend for students.

The stores feature student-centric items such as prepared foods, sandwiches, pizzas, salads, wraps, groceries and other convenience items, Columbus Underground reported.

“Our new campus-area locations bring customers the latest features of our GetGo format,” GetGo Vice President of Operations Dave Daniel told the news outlet.

The stores do not currently sell gasoline, but customers can still earn purchase points under Giant Eagle’s fuelperks program.

Kwik Trip Inc.
After recently opening its 400th convenience store, La Crosse, Wis.-based Kwik Trip is now planning more stores in Superior, Wis., on North 28th Street and Tower Avenue, Banks and Belknap Street, and at the site of the Nemadji truck store, the Duluth News Tribune reported.

So far, the company has acquired one of these locations, Chief Financial Officer Scott Teigen said. Demolition should get underway in the next few weeks, making way for the 3,900-square-foot store and five islands featuring 13 pumps for gasoline and diesel, in addition to compressed natural gas, an alternative fuel that sells for about half the cost of gas.

“We won’t be building any stores until next spring,” Teigen said. “We also have a contract on the Nemadji truck stop, and we’ll be leveling that.”

The Banks Avenue store will be bigger than the one planned for Tower Avenue, Teigen said. The company is planning to make about $5.8 million in improvements at the site.

The Parker Cos.
Parker’s opened two new convenience stores in Georgia, one in Faulkville and the other in Statesboro -- marking the chain’s 31st and 32nd corporate stores.

Located at 3050 Highway 80 in Faulkville, the new store is the fourth Parker’s location in Effingham County and features discounted gasoline; fountain drinks with the company’s signature Chewy Ice; fresh-brewed iced tea; gourmet coffee blends; frozen drink flavors; a walk-in beer cave, touch-free restrooms and more.

The new Statesboro location is at 24151 Highway 80 East and is a 2,860-square-foot store. It also features discounted gasoline and drinks with the company’s signature Chewy Ice; four flavors of fresh-brewed iced tea; eight gourmet coffee blends; eight frozen drink flavors; a walk-in beer cave; touch-free restrooms and more.

Pilot Flying J
Pilot Flying J opened two new travel centers -- a Pilot Travel Center in Oakwood, Ill., and a Flying J Travel Plaza in Vandalia, Ohio.

The Pilot Travel Center in Oakwood is located off Interstate 74 at exit 206 and is the company’s 38th location in Illinois. It offers seven diesel lanes; 10 gasoline lanes with high-speed pumps for quicker refueling; a PJ Fresh Marketplace that serves breakfast platters, salads, sandwiches, a frozen yogurt bar, pizza, hot dogs and more; a Cinnabon; and premium coffee and cappuccino selections.

The Flying J Travel Plaza in Vandalia is located off Interstate 75 at exit 64 and is the company’s 34th location in Ohio. Amenities include eight diesel lanes; 12 gasoline lanes with high-speed pumps; a Subway and Cinnabon; expanded food offerings of pizza, soup, salads, sandwiches and hot dogs; and premium coffee and cappuccino selections.