Convenience stores are taking more steps in their rapid expansion across the United States, with two regional chains announcing plans for further store openings this year.
The mid-Atlantic chain Wawa said it will open 60 additional stores in Virginia, mainly in the western part of the state. Kwik Trip, a Midwest-focused chain, unveiled plans to expand into its seventh state with four more stores planned for greater Fargo, North Dakota.
The expansion wave has hit the convenience store sector through acquisitions and attempted buyouts, aggressive building of new stores and enlarging existing buildings to add a greater variety of foods and beverages. In the most significant potential move, Alimentation Couche-Tard, parent of Circle K, made an unsolicited bid of $47 billion for 7-Eleven. The two companies remain in talks about the potential combination.
Wawa, based in Media, Pennsylvania, already operates dozens of locations in Virginia, centered on the Washington, D.C., suburbs, Richmond and the Hampton Roads area. The new locations will be located primarily along the Interstate 81 corridor in western Virginia. Construction started this month on a store at 14039 Wards Road in Lynchburg and at 1135 Richmond Ave. in Staunton.
In the new initiative, Wawa intends to open as many as 60 new stores in Virginia over the next decade, with an early phase of between six and eight new stores to open this year. Wawa did not disclose the location of additional Virginia stores beyond Lynchburg and Staunton.
Wawa estimated it will spend about $7.5 million to develop each store, with every location employing about 35 workers.
Kwik Trip has either acquired or leased four locations in the Fargo area and will open stores at two of those locations later this year, according to public records. Two locations include 4177 Crossroads Drive South and 4501 37th Ave. South.
Each of the two Fargo locations are designed to cover about 11,000 square feet and feature a car wash; Kwik Trip expects to invest about $4.5 million to develop each store.
Kwik Trip also plans to open two stores in Moorhead, Minnesota, a suburb of Fargo, at undisclosed locations.