New Convenience-Store Roundup for December 2023

This edition of CSP’s New Convenience-Store Roundup features new-to-industry (NTI) c-store openings, as well as closings, that took place in December 2023.

Indiana, Oklahoma and South Carolina had the most new stores for the month, with four locations opening in each state.

The unscientifically gathered roundup—gleaned from company announcements, websites, email, social media and newspapers around the country, among other sources—is by no means complete, but it serves as a monthly competitive snapshot of newly opened or closed U.S. c-stores, gas stations, truckstops and travel centers.

• Click here for new c-store roundups from previous months, along with other grand opening and new-store coverage. And click here for coverage of convenience industry mergers-and-acquisitions activity.

Many of the stores listed here are owned by independent operators, while others belong to major chains. Some are part of CSP’s Top 202 ranking of c-store chains by size. Some of the owners and operators are new entrepreneurs, and some are industry veterans.

A new gas station and c-store, Station 49, opened in Delta Junction, Alaska, on Dec. 13. It includes a Subway sandwich shop.

Net new stores*: 1

*Represents new-to-industry stores opened minus stores closed in this state for the month of this count only. Other c-stores not captured by this count may have opened or closed in the state. The roundup does not include raze-and-rebuilt, remodeled or replacement stores. acquisitions or new ownership.

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Salinas, California, in on Dec. 15. The site has nine diesel bays; 93 truck parking spaces, 75 car parking spaces and four RV parking spaces; a Speedco; and a CAT scale. The more than 11,000-square-foot facility features an Arby’s restaurant, as well as bean-to-cup coffee. It also has seven showers and laundry facilities, as well as a Mobile to Go Zone with GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories. 

Net new stores: 1

A 7-Eleven c-store in Denver that operated for more than a decade closed in December. The property is owned by Kentro Group. Kentro executive Jimmy Balafas said 7-Eleven corporate, which owns the store, did not explain the reason for the closure.

Net new stores: 1

Royal Farms opened a new c-store in Georgetown, Delaware, on Dec. 14.

Net new stores: 1

The new Dunkin’/Marathon c-store owned and operated by Jones Petroleum opened on Dec. 8 in Jackson, Georgia.

The Parker Cos. opened a new Parker’s kitchen c-store in Statesboro, Georgia, on Dec. 20. The design features Lowcountry-inspired architecture with a modern glass-front façade with lime-washed brick, bracketry and designer lighting. The retail footprint offers indoor dining as well as an optimized interior layout. It offers grab-and-go options as well as a hot bar serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and electronic kiosk ordering. Popular items include southern fried chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese and potato logs. Additional highlights include the spicy chicken tender sandwich, salads, coffee, sweet tea, Fancy Lemonade, 28-degree beer, fountain drinks with Chewy Ice and a wide range of convenience items. The new store offers 16 fueling positions with regular, diesel and ethanol-free fuel.

Net new stores: 2

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Dwight, Illinois, on Dec. 28.

Net new stores: 1

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Michigan City, Indiana, on Dec. 14. The site has eight diesel bays; 114 truck parking spaces, 77 car parking spaces and three RV parking spaces; a Speedco; and a CAT scale. The more than 16,000-square-foot facility features a Godfather’s Pizza and a Taco John’s, and it offers bean-to-cup coffee. It also has nine showers and laundry facilities, as well as a Mobile to Go Zone with GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories.

RaceTrac opened its first c-store in Indiana, in Lawrence, near Indianapolis, in mid-December. It features an expanded diesel offering. Inside, it features grab and go pizza and sandwiches, whole and cut fruit and salads, Swirl World frozen treat station, “Crazy Good Coffee,” roller grill favorites like Nathan’s Famous 100% Premium All Beef Hot Dogs and Tornados, featuring battered and fried tortillas filled with meats, cheeses and spices.

Casey’s General Stores opened new c-stores in Madison, Indiana, on Dec. 28 and Evansville, Indiana, on Dec. 29.

Net new stores: 4

Wawa opened a new c-store in Laurel, Maryland, on Dec. 19.

Net new stores: 1

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Crete, Nebraska, on Dec. 14.

Net new stores: 1

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Nicholson, Mississippi, on Dec. 14. The site has eight diesel bays; 99 truck parking spaces, 68 car parking spaces and eight RV parking spaces; and a CAT scale. The more than 13,000-square-foot facility features a Bojangles restaurant and bean-to-cup coffee. It also has seven showers and laundry facilities, as well as a Mobile to Go Zone with GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories.

Net new stores: 1

Wawa opened new c-stores in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, on Dec. 1, Wayne, New Jersey, on Dec. 4, and Middletown, New Jersey, on Dec. 8.

Net new stores: 3

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened a new location in Watertown, New York, on Dec. 14. The site has seven diesel bays; 71 truck parking spaces, 78 car parking spaces and five RV parking spaces and five RV hookups; and a CAT scale. The more than 14,000-square-foot facility features a Godfather’s Pizza and McDonald’s, as well as bean-to-cup coffee. It also has five showers and laundry facilities, as well as a Mobile to Go Zone with GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories. 

Net new stores: 1

On Dec. 31, Mike Tester closed his Exxon service station in Jamestown, North Carolina, and he and his employee Penn Farr have retired. Tester and his wife Jacqueline opened the station as a CITGO station in March of 1996, leasing it from Harold and Martha Hall. Hall was the second mayor of Jamestown. The mayor built the building in the 1960s, and it was a Sunoco and Mobil gas station under his ownership. Tester purchased the station from Martha Hall in 2001.

Net new stores: -1

Casey’s General Stores opened a new c-store in Beavercreek, Ohio, on Dec. 7.

Sheetz opened a new c-store in Cleveland on Dec. 21.

Thorntons, part of the bp family of brands, opened a new c-store in Monroe, Ohio, on Dec. 31. The 5,500-square-foot facility is set on 6.22 acres and features 20 auto fueling positions, four diesel lanes and a CAT scale. The store includes self-checkout, LED lighting for safety and energy efficiency, freshly made burritos and sandwiches prepared throughout the day in the store's onsite kitchen, a variety of beverages, including fresh bean-to-cup coffee and fountain beverages with nugget ice.

Net new stores: 3

Casey’s General Stores opened new c-stores in Oklahoma City on Dec. 1, Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Dec. 15 and Norman, Oklahoma, on Dec. 15. The company also opened a new Goodstop c-store in Tulsa on Dec. 12.

Net new stores: 4

Wawa opened a new c-store in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 14.

Net new stores: 1

The Spinx Co. opened a new c-store in the West Ashley district of Charleston, South Carolina, on Dec 7. The full-service gas station also includes a Ride 'N Shine car wash tunnel. Customers can purchase fountain drinks with Spinx's chewy ice, in addition to hot beverages, including bean-to-cup fresh coffee.

QuikTrip opened a new c-store in Greenwood, South Carolina, on Dec. 21.

RaceTrac opened its first two stores in South Carolina. The St. George location, near Interstate 95, which opened on Dec. 28, is the brand’s largest travel center.  The Greenville store, located north of Interstate 85, opened on Dec. 29 and features an extended diesel offering. The travel center features a large, easily maneuverable lot with spacious high-flow diesel lanes, overnight truck parking and CAT scales to meet the needs of professional drivers. They offer grab-and-go pizza and sandwiches, fruit and salads, Swirl World frozen treat station, freshly ground and brewed Crazy Good Coffee with toppings and creamers and roller grill favorites.

Net new stores: 4

Weigel’s opened two new c-stores in Chattanooga and Harrison, Tennessee, in December.

Net new stores: 2

7-Eleven opened a new c-store in Stafford, Virginia, in December.

Net new stores: 1

A 7-Eleven c-store near Thomas Circle in Washington, D.C., closed in mid-December.

Net new stores: -1

NEW STORES OPENED IN DECEMBER 2023: 31

STORES CLOSED IN DECEMBER 2023: 2

NET NEW STORES IN DECEMBER 2023: 29

TOTAL NET NEW STORES IN 2023: 326

To be sure your locations are listed in upcoming roundups, please send new-store announcements and other news to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@winsightmedia.com