What's In Store: Openings & Closings

8/12/2013

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:

CEFCO Convenience Stores
On July 30, Temple, Texas-based CEFCO Convenience Stores reopened its existing site on Highway 183 in Liberty Hill, Texas, as the ninth store reflecting its newest design for the next generation. The Liberty Hill store now incorporates a number of innovative enhancements made possible by an open, fresh design with modern treatments and upgraded finishes.

“We invite the public to visit this new 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.”

CEFCO currently operates more than 250 convenience stores.

Hy-Vee Inc.
The newest Hy-Vee convenience store will open next month at 2300 Bowling St. SW in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, across the street from an existing Hy-Vee Food Store. The c-store has plans to add a car wash in the near future, Ruth Comer, assistant vice president of West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee, told The Gazette.

The site at Bowling Street and Wilson Avenue SW previously housed a Novak Sinclair service station, which closed in early December.

Hy-Vee, an employee-owned company with roughly 63,000 associates, operates 233 stores in eight Midwest states.

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, based in Oklahoma City, opened a new facility in Lenoir City, Tenn. The Love’s travel center is located at Exit 364 off Interstate 40, and is a fully stocked travel stop featuring 95 truck parking spots and McDonald’s and Subway restaurants.

The Lenoir City facility also includes a Love’s Truck Tire Care Center, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, bulk diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is available at the pump on all diesel lanes, along with radio-frequency identification (RFID) cardless fueling, CAT scales, five showers and other amenities.

Pilot Flying J
Pilot Flying J opened a new Pilot Travel Center at 305 Abrahames Road in Moriarty, N.M., featuring full amenities for professional drivers.

Located off Interstate 40 and Highway 41 at exit 196, the travel center offers eight diesel lanes and 12 gasoline lanes with high-speed pumps for quicker refueling; a Subway restaurant; Cinnabon; expanded food offerings such as pizza, soup, salads, sandwiches and hot dogs; premium coffee and cappuccino; and more.

The Moriarty facility is Pilot Flying J's eighth in New Mexico and its 664th overall in North America.

Additionally, the Knoxville, Tenn.-based retailer opened a new Pilot Travel Center in Canton, Ohio, and is expanding to offer Flying J diesel fuel in Primm, Nev. The Canton travel center is located at 2320 Faircrest St., off Interstate 77 at exit 101. The Flying J diesel fuel service, with 10 lanes, is located at 115 West Primm Blvd., off Interstate 15 at exit 1.

The Canton facility marks Pilot Flying J's 33rd location in Ohio.

Wawa Inc.
Pennsylvania-based Wawa Inc. opened its newest Florida store last week, bringing its Sunshine State store count to 14. The chain has several more openings planned before the end of the year.

The newest location opened at 23 Seminola Blvd. in Casselberry on July 24. During the month of August, two more Wawa sites are scheduled for grand openings in Orlando – a store at 7305 Curry Ford Road is slated to open Aug. 22, while a store at 6500 South Semoran Blvd. is scheduled to open Aug. 29, the Orlando Business Journal reported.

Other Wawa stores are set to open this fall, including:

3025 Curry Ford Road in Orlando;
608 N. Goldenrod Road in Orlando;
13585 S. Orange Ave. in Orlando;
901 N. Orlando Ave. in Winter Park
449 W. Main St. in Apopka; and
8574 S. Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando.

Additionally, Wawa’s current plans call for 11 more central Florida stores to open in 2014.