1407 US-80, Demopolis AL 36732
“I stumbled upon this awesome spot purely by chance. I'm a trucker, and I was desperately searching for parking late one night – this was literally my last resort. It was past midnight, dark, and everything was locked up. I parked way out and crashed for the night. Woke up around 11ish, went inside to hit the restroom, and immediately got hit with smells that took me right back to my childhood. I just knew someone was in the kitchen pouring their heart into whatever they were cooking. I waited for all the food to come out, and seriously, it all looked perfect; I couldn't decide what I wanted, I literally wanted everything. I ended up getting two plates: baked chicken with sweet potatoes and green beans, then a baked pork chop plate with sweet potatoes, cheesy rice, and broccoli. OMG, every single bite was sensational. I also grabbed some peach cobbler, which I could tell was the only store-bought item. My total was $34 for everything, so not too shabby. I don't pass through this area often, but I swear I'll stop every time if they're open. Whoever this lady is cooking here, may she be forever blessed. I haven't had food this good since my granny passed away over 10 years ago.”
1301 US-80, Demopolis AL 36732
“We love this Shell station. Big area for driving our SUV and getting gas is easy. If we want food, there's plenty of options. We especially love the homemade chicken salad and pimento and cheese.”
The Iowa retailer, the third-largest convenience store operator in the country, built its new three-year plan around three priorities: store growth, food and beverage expansion, and kitchen technology upgrades. The company plans to add 120 stores during the current fiscal year. Its previous plan, launched in 2023, delivered more than 500 new stores and earned the company a spot in the S&P 500.
Read the postLove's Travel Stops is starting 2025 with ambitious growth plans, adding 20 new stores and updating 50 current locations across the country. The truck stop company will upgrade its stores through its Strategic Remodel Initiative, which started in 2022. This includes the modernization of its recently acquired turnpike location in Stroud, Oklahoma. By 2035, over half of Love's 655 stores will be either new or updated.
Read the postFood service giant Sodexo plans to open nearly 100 "Food Hive" locations on campuses nationwide by 2026. The company has already started the process, aiming to launch about 30 new college convenience stores during the current 2024-25 academic year.
Read the post7-Eleven is going big on food and "frictionless shopping." The convenience store giant plans to open 500 new "food-forward" locations across the U.S. from 2025 to 2027. The expansion builds on 7-Eleven's "Evolution" store concept, first launched in Dallas in 2019. These larger-format stores feature in-store restaurants, premium products like craft beer and cigars, and an emphasis on fresh, grab-and-go meals.
Read the postAmazon has quietly opened a new type of grocery store in downtown Chicago. Called Amazon Grocery, the 3,800-square-foot store is a testing ground for Amazon's latest experiment in brick-and-mortar retail. The first Amazon Grocery location shares a building with a Whole Foods Market, which Amazon purchased in 2017.
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