What's In Store: Parker's, Cumberland Farms & Corner Store
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:
Corner Store
San Antonio-based Corner Store celebrated the grand opening of its newest store on the city's West Side in early May. The 3,627-square-foot store features a Redbox kiosk and 12 gasoline dispensers with E85 fuel.
Corner Store parent CST Brands Inc. plans to add 35 to 40 new-to-industry stores this year to its network of more than 1,000 U.S. Corner Stores throughout Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and California.
The new stores are larger, with ample parking, a colorful and spacious design, and a wider variety of food options. Most are equipped with kitchens to prepare breakfast tacos with homemade tortillas, empanadas, whoopie pies, cookies, doughnuts, savory kolaches and other items in the store’s signature food line, Fresh Choices. Other options include grilled sausages and all-beef hot dogs with white or wheat buns, fresh-cut fruit and salads.
In addition, new stores carry signature products such as Fresh Choices nuts and snack mixes, U Force energy and sport drinks, Cibolo Mountain coffee, FC bottled soda and Coca-Cola Freestyle fountain drinks.
Cumberland Farms Inc.
The Framingham, Mass.-based retailer continues to open newly remodeled stores throughout its markets. Two such stores in its home state welcomed customers the first week of May.
The remodeled Cumberland Farms at 290 County St. in Attleboro, Mass., held a grand reopening May 6 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and complimentary food and drinks from the store's new menu. The newly renovated Cumberland Farms at 317 Federal St. in Greenfield, Mass., held its grand reopening event on May 7.
Both stores are holding fundraisers for local organizations, donating 10 cents from every dispensed beverage purchased at the Attleboro store to the city's community development office and 10 cents from every dispensed beverage purchased at the Greenfield store to Greenfield High School.
In addition, Cumberland Farms marked the opening of a brand-new store in Stoughton, Mass., on May 12. Like many of the renovated and new Cumberland Farms' outlets, this store offers a range of hot food items from pizza to grilled hot dogs to fried favorites.
Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
Love's continues to grow its travel stop presence across the United States, recently opening new locations in Arizona, California, Kansas and Missouri.
In Arizona, a Love's Travel Stop opened at exit 163 along Interstate 40 in Williams. The 12,000-square-foot facility includes Subway and Carl’s Jr. restaurants. The 24-hour travel stop also features seven showers, a Love's Truck Tire Care center, RFID cardless fueling and CAT scales. Love’s Fast-Fill compressed natural gas (CNG) will be available later this year.
Another new Love's Travel Stop opened at the intersection of Interstate 5 and State Route 12 in Lodi, Calif. The spot marks the fourth Love's facility along I-5 and the ninth overall in California. The location features an Arby's restaurant. The 24-hour travel stop also includes 86 truck parking spaces, seven showers, a Love's Truck Tire Care center, RFID cardless fueling and CAT scales.
In Missouri, the newest Love's Travel Stop is located in Neosho, at the intersection of Interstate 49 and State Route 86. The 12,000-square-foot facility features McDonald's and Subway restaurants. The travel stop also includes seven showers, a Love's Truck Tire Care center, RFID cardless fueling and CAT scales.
Additionally, Love's opened its first location on Interstate 135 in McPherson, Kan., at the intersection of U.S. Highway 56. The new travel stop includes a Hardee's restaurant. The 24-hour facility also features seven showers, 84 truck parking spaces, a Love’s Truck Tire Care center, RFID cardless fueling and CAT scales.
All Love's locations boast 24-hour access to name-brand snacks, an expanded fountain drink selection, gourmet coffee, electronics and gift merchandise as well.
Parker's Convenience Stores
Savannah, Ga.-based Parker's opened its 37th convenience store at the Interstate 16 exit in Metter, Ga. The 3,200-square-foot store is open 24 hours, seven days a week and features 10 fueling positions, including diesel fuel.
The location features fresh-brewed sweet tea and lemonade, as well as the company's signature Chewy Ice, 24 soda fountain heads and gourmet coffee.
"We've had numerous customer requests to open a Parker's at this particular location," said Greg Parker, president and CEO. "Area residents wanted more competitive pricing at the Metter exit. We're proud to be the low price leader in Candler County and throughout coastal Georgia and South Carolina."
Street Corner
Street Corner opened its newest location in Coral Square Mall in Coral Springs, Fla., to meet the needs of mall shoppers and employees. The 371-square-foot store is the retailer's third Florida location.
In addition to chips, candy and bottled drinks, the Coral Square Mall store sells a variety of sundry items and over-the-counter remedies, as well as lottery tickets. It also carries items catering to local tastes, including citrus drinks and guava-based treats.
The Coral Square Mall store is No. 48 in the Street Corner chain. The company, based in Topeka, Kan., has franchisee-owned stores or kiosks in 19 states.