May 19, 2023

QuickChek, Royal Farms, Thorntons and Tri Star Energy also welcomed customers at new locations. Associate Editor 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. 7-Eleven Inc. Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors arranged the $2.4 million sale of a new construction, single-tenant property occupied by a 7-Eleven convenience store and gas station in Imperial Valley, Calif. Built in 2021, the single-tenant 2,940-square-foot 7-Eleven is located on 0.78 acres at 555 North Imperial Ave. in El Centro. The property benefits from two 30-foot pylon signs and is directly adjacent to Carl's Jr. and Express Lube. The property serves the Imperial Valley and Mexicali (Mexico), creating a combined primary customer base of approximately 1.5 million people. The 7-Eleven property also benefits from its proximity to a development of 609 single-family homes, the Town Center Villas apartments and several planned communities. "7-Eleven is one of the most sought-after single-tenant investments across the country in today's market," said Hanley Executive Vice President Bill Asher. "The company's operating success as an essential business during the pandemic further accentuated the attractiveness of this investment-grade tenant." Hanley represented the seller Imperial Retail Investments LLC, while the buyer, a private investor from Orange County, Calif., was self-represented. The investment group currently has an additional brand-new, single-tenant 7-Eleven listed for sale in Beaumont, Calif. Image Enmarket Enmarket celebrated the grand opening of a new Richmond Hill, Ga., location at 3651 Highway 17. "We are excited to be able to better serve our customers in Bryan County," said Matt Clements, president of Enmarket, a division of Savannah, Ga.-based Colonial Group. "This new store will allow us to help motorists and shoppers in one of the fastest growing communities in the Southeast." Although the new store had previously held a soft opening, the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on May 4, with guests treated to product samplings of fan favorites and free giveaways. Amenities at the site include foodservice from the Eatery, Mooz frozen yogurt and an in-bay Marketwash car wash. The new store is the 130th store in Enmarket's inventory across Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Its build is a refinement of Enmarket's prototype, optimizing unused space in the original design and eliminating equipment. These adjustments make the store more efficient to build, operate and shop in but retain the look and feel of the prototype. Image Parker's Kitchen Parker's Kitchen hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for its newest store in North Charleston, S.C.,  which was attended by local dignitaries including North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, City Councilman Bob King and representatives from the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Located at 5644 N. Rhett Ave., the company's 75th retail location features Southern-inspired food prepared fresh on-site, including hand-breaded southern fried chicken tenders, savory mac-and-cheese, egg casseroles, biscuits and more. Drivers can also fuel up with regular, diesel and marine non-ethanol fuel. The site —which is the company's 12th store in metro Charleston and 31st store in South Carolina — features a new Lowcountry-inspired prototype offering a modern, contemporary glass-front façade with lime-washed brick, handsome bracketry and designer lighting. The retail footprint additionally offers an optimized interior layout to maximize efficiency for customers, with manned as well as self-check-out stations. Thorntons Thorntons opened its newest Nashville, Tenn., store at 1525 West Main Street. The company now operates a total of 19 stores in Tennessee. The grand opening celebration included numerous deals and giveaways for guests, including a Thorntons mystery gift card which customers could immediately scan at the register to determine the value, with one customer winning a $1,000 gift card. The event also featured music and games, as well as the presentation of a $2,500 donation to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee by Thorntons leadership. The 4,400 square foot facility is set on 1.55 acres and features a number of amenities to serve guests, including self-checkout stations, LED lighting, freshly made burritos and sandwiches prepared throughout the day at the onsite kitchen, a variety of top-of-the-line beverages and 20 auto fueling positions. Based in Louisville, Ky., Thorntons is part of the BP portfolio. Image Tri Star Energy Nashville-based Tri Star Energy cut the ribbon on two new Twice Daily convenience store locations in Tennessee: one in Clarksville at 2220 Madison Street, and one in Springfield at 1001 Memorial Blvd. The latter location also includes a White Bison coffee shop. To celebrate the openings, Twice Daily presented a $1,500 check to Clarksville Area Urban Ministries and another check in the same amount to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Twice Daily has served middle Tennessee communities since 2011 and expanded to the North Alabama market in 2019. Both store openings are part of a three-year plan for the retailer to convert all of its Sudden Service and Southern Traders c-stores to the Twice Daily banner throughout Tennessee and Alabama. "As we navigate these store conversions, our priority will continue to rest in our guests and store teams. Providing the highest-quality service and offerings has always been top of mind for us and will continue to stay a constant throughout this transition," said Steve Hostetter, CEO of Tri Star Energy. While the converted stores will be rebranded under the Twice Daily name, returning guests can expect the same teams and guest service the brands are known for, according to Hostetter. In addition to traditional convenience items, Twice Daily's premium offerings range from grab-and-go snacks, including organic brands, to a selection of staple groceries. A fresh deli case provides handmade and healthy options featuring fruits, sandwiches, salads and snacks. The White Bison Coffee concept offers handcrafted specialty coffee drinks, such as drip coffee, single origin pour-over coffees, cold brew, hot and cold espresso beverages and more. Guests can also enjoy freshly baked pastries and handmade breakfast and lunch items, including sandwiches, salads and bistro snack boxes.