What's In Store: Parker's, Sheetz, Stewart's Shops & Thorntons

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.

Cumberland Farms

New England-based retailer Cumberland Farms welcomed customers to its latest convenience store in West Boylston, Mass. The 4,786-square-foot store features an interior high-top bar counter, outdoor patio seating, six fueling pumps and 14 parking spaces.

Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores      

Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores continues its course of new location openings, among them its eighth location in Louisiana. The Love's Travel Stop in Port Barre is a 5,000-square-foot facility that features a Subway restaurant. The location also has 16 truck-parking spaces, two showers, RFID cardless fueling, CAT scales and other driver services.

The Oklahoma City-based company also recently welcomed customers at these new locations:

• A 10,000-square-foot Love's Travel Stops in Terre Haute, Ind. The 17th location in Indiana features a Hardee's restaurant, 70 truck-parking spaces and five showers.
• A Love's Country Store in Meade, Kan. The store offers a Subway restaurant and two roller grills with hot food items.
• A Love's Travel Stop in Okmulgee, Okla., which boasts the company's third IHOP Express restaurant. The location also features 59 truck parking spaces and five showers.
• A Love's Travel Stop in Lake, Miss. It offers seven showers, 80 truck parking spaces and Love's Truck Tire Care.

"One of our goals this year has been to provide more dining options in addition to the driver services and amenities Love's offers," said Greg Love, co-CEO of Love's. "Any time we can provide an area with a new restaurant option, such as IHOP Express, is an exciting opportunity. We look forward to serving customers in new parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Mississippi for a long time."

Kwik Trip Inc.

In late September, Kwik Trip Inc. opened a new Kwik Trip convenience store and gas station in Mount Pleasant, Wis. At approximately 5,000 square feet, the 24-hour store is the 550th location in Kwik Trip's portfolio.

Parker's

Parker's convenience stores cut the ribbon on its newest retail store in Port Royal, S.C., on Sept. 15. 

"This new store is a response to strong consumer demand in Beaufort County," said Parker's CEO Greg Parker. "We are deeply grateful for the support of our loyal customers as well as the elected officials and area dignitaries who are here today to help us celebrate our grand opening."

The new store, which is the company's 45th location and the 11th in South Carolina, features a hot deli serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, including popular Parker's offerings prepared fresh on-site. Other items include as Parker's signature Chewy Ice, fountain drinks, freshly brewed tea and lemonade, gourmet coffee, fruit, salads, 28-degree beer, vape products and cell phone accessories. 
 
The Port Royal site also has eight fueling stations.

Sheetz Inc.

Sheetz Inc. welcomed customers at three new convenience stores as the summer unofficially came to an end. The retailer opened a location in Morrisville, N.C., on Aug. 30; Galax, Va., on Aug. 31; and Parma, Ohio, on Sept. 1.

The retailer also held a grand opening for its third Sheetz restaurant/grocery. The store in Indiana, Pa., has a complete focus on Sheetz' traditional Made-to-Order selections, sandwiches and salads, prepared food and bakery items and Sheetz Bros. Coffee offerings.

Stewart's Shops

Upstate New York convenience retailer Stewart's Shops has been busy holding grand openings for a couple of new locations. On Oct. 7, the Stewart's Shops location in Onondaga County, N.Y., hosted a celebrated opening its doors a week earlier on Sept. 28. 

The retailer also hosted festivities for its new store in Coxsackie, N.Y., on Sept. 30. The location offers fresh pizza and features a beer cave, indoor seating, two restrooms and expanded fuel service, including diesel.

Thorntons Inc.

Thorntons Inc. opened the doors of its newest store, located in Waukengan, Ill., on Sept. 22. The c-store features a Thorntons Kitchen and is the 20th in the retailer's portfolio to offer Unleaded15.

Thorntons introduced its branded Unleaded15 in the spring to consumers in its Chicago area market. The company has partnered with Prime the Pump, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and the Illinois Renewable Fuels Association to add Unleaded15 to stores in the Chicagoland area.

TravelCenters of America LLC

TravelCenters of America LLC, operator of the TA and Petro Stopping Centers travel center brands, hosted the grand reopening of its newest TA Truck Service facility at TA Candler in Candler, N.C.

The newly remodeled 5,001-square-foot truck service center includes four shop bays, two pits, and three service trucks. Repair services include preventive maintenance, tires, parts and service and RoadSquad roadside assistance, performed by expert technicians with ASE and TIA certifications. It is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week.