“I must say as an easy coast guy I was not expecting such a nice spot in the middle of nowhere on the way to the Grand canyon. But I was pleasantly surprised with this very nice place. There's a quick mart and a coffee shop and a restaurant and a restroom and even trinkets made by the locals. You can also buy souvenirs here. And here's my favorite souvenir hack: never buy souvenirs at the official souvenir shop or by a visitor center as it's always more expensive rather go to a store outside the official park or attraction like this place and get the same thing for cheaper. Listen and you'll find what makes my vacations so much more pleasant without spending big bucks on small souvenirs. It really changes my vacations.”
“After many hours on the road sightseeing AJs was a welcomed vision that glowed in the night. We gassed up and then parked the car to use the facilities inside. Which was found clean and functional. There is a nice array of items in the mini mart gift shop with an additional shop of Native American crafts which sadly was not open at 7pm when we arrived. As we shopped, both employees, Deacon and Lana, greeted us. No pressure, just offering assistance, if needed. We waited for the people making noodles to leave the coffee area only to find there was no coffee (insert sad face) this was understandable since they were getting ready to close at 8pm. Then an angel appeared from behind the counter named Lana! With a smile she said, “I can make you any coffee you want.” Quickly she whipped the most delectable, hot, soothing cup of goodness our bodies were longing for. We paid for the coffee and our new treasures and asked if we could sit outside for a little bit before returning to the car to continue our long journey home. Both Deacon and Lana said YES. This was a life saver. Not only did the employees make us feel at ease, but they also assisted us in safely getting to our final destination. Thank you!!”
“Michelle & Theresa were spectacular! I came in because my glasses lens popped out, no other stores could help me luckily Theresa had a an old school tool to tighten the screw to my glasses. They both worked at fixing up my glasses for me. Planned to go to the Canyon so if it wasn’t for them I’d be a blind bandit & no canyon for me. By the way I did try to do this survey on circle k’s survey website but they website failed to let me complete it. This was the next best thing! Thank you again Michelle & Theresa!”
“Valle Travel Stop is a popular convenience store and gas station located in Valle, Arizona, serving as a key rest stop for travelers heading to the Grand Canyon. It offers gas, snacks, drinks, and clean restrooms, but is also known for its large gift shop featuring souvenirs, Native American jewelry, Western wear, and unique items, plus displays of vintage cars. It's a well-stocked hub for essentials and tourist merchandise before entering the national park.”
“I’ve been to the Matador coffee inside the food mart a few times. They have amazing coffee and the breakfast burritos are very good. Unfortunately they have gotten my coffee and breakfast orders wrong multiple times now.”
“The original large scale vehicle and semi truck stop in Williams. Staff usually welcome you in. It's usually clean, and never messy. I can tell yoi their member gas price discount is better than Maverick because: you don't have to give access for them to be able to view your banking account like you have to give to Maverick in order to get their $ .10c discount per gallon. I like that Carl's and Subway. Then there is the Loves food selection for the true road warriors! Restrooms are tidy but its an older facility and it shows in the restrooms. I'll take clean and functional over new! Not having to touch the main bathroom door to leave while not sacrificing privacy should be a must more than it is. There is a dump station. Pay and get the key, then return it. Having a functional hose at the dump station should be a priority, Its a messy job! So if you use it don't leave any mess for others. Propane is available. Ask inside and they'll come out. The view is nice and they used to have bird sounds playing. I haven't heard that recently. I miss that and think it made this Loves a bit different, a bit better, than the others!”
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.
Love'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.
Food 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.
7-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.
Amazon 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.