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:
Kum & Go LC
Kum & Go LC, based in West Des Moines, Iowa, opened a new 5,000-square-foot convenience store Sept. 13 in Tulsa, Okla. The store is located at 10021 S. Mingo Road, which replaced an older, smaller store at 10032 S. Mingo Road.
While the old store offered limited roller grill items such as hot dogs and tornados, the new store has a “Go Fresh Market” offering a broad selection of foods, including made-to-order pizzas, baked goods, and breakfast and deli sandwiches -- all made fresh daily in Kum & Go’s on-site kitchen. Outside, more fueling stations and a large variety of fuel offerings, including E85 flex fuel, will give consumers more choices and value at the pump, the company reported.
Parker Cos.
Parker Cos. recently celebrated the official grand opening of its new state-of-the-art location in Statesboro, Ga., located at 11012 Highway 301 South. The 3,200-square-foot retail store is the third Parker’s location in Bulloch County.
The store features discounted gasoline, fountain drinks with the company’s signature Chewy Ice, fresh-brewed iced tea, gourmet coffee blends, frozen drink flavors, 28-degree beer and more.
The new Statesboro store is the company’s 32nd location, and Parker’s currently employs more than 400 individuals throughout Georgia and South Carolina.
The company’s PumpPal program, which offers discounts of up to 10 cents on every gallon of gas purchased, has saved customers more than $3 million since the program first launched in February 2011. Today, the PumpPal program has more than 75,000 members throughout Georgia and South Carolina.
Parker’s also features its 1-Cent Wednesday Fueling the Community program at the Statesboro location. On the first Wednesday of every month, Parker’s sets aside one cent of every gallon of gas purchased to donate back to local schools. PumpPal members can designate which Bulloch County school they would like their donation to benefit.
Susser Holdings Corp.
Stripes Convenience Stores, owned by Susser Holdings Corp. of Corpus Christi, Texas, opened the first Stripes Convenience Store in Burnet, Texas, which features a variety of food items form the Laredo Taco Co. quick-service restaurant concept. The store held a grand opening ceremony on Oct. 10.
The new 7,000-square-foot location features 10 Stripes Branded Fuel options, including an unleaded, unleaded plus, super and truck diesel station; a dining area that seats 24; “the beer super cooler,” designated for beer/adult beverages set to cool below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and more.
Tedeschi Food Shops, based in Rockland, Mass., reopened a store in Cedarville, Mass., following an extensive remodel. It houses a full-service deli, and was updated with modern lighting, new ceramic tile flooring, more spacious aisles and digital menu screens to improve the customer experience, the company reported.
There are also new fresh meat and produce cases, and a new coffee counter with state-of-the-art equipment. The store now offers a wide array of deli meats, fresh food selection and a variety of hot beverage options.
TravelCenters of America
Westlake, Ohio-based TravelCenters of America LLC, operator of the TA and Petro Stopping Centers travel center brands, unveiled its newest Petro location at I-10, Exit 57 (4325 E. Guasti Road) in Ontario, Calif. This location was previously a TA travel center.
The new Petro offers the top-rated, full-service restaurant Iron Skillet, as well as 536 truck parking spaces on a large, well-lit lot; Reserve-It reserved parking; six diesel lanes with new dispensers for pumping diesel and diesel exhaust fluid; 30 showers; truck service center with four shop bays; RoadSquad emergency roadside service; a large travel store; UltraMobile Verizon Premium Wireless store; fuel building with a full-service deli; CAT Scale; Burger King quick-service restaurant; and ministry and medical services.
The full-service offering at this location will soon be expanded to include a Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen restaurant. The driver’s lounge, which features DIRECTV and the NFL Sunday Ticket service, is currently being remodeled to provide drivers with a more relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, the company reported.