“Okay Kwik Star here in Shell Rock, IA. You may ask “Shy, why isn’t this review 5 stars?” I was here on April 24th, 2026 at around 4:45 PM. When I came, the non-fountain area was clean. The hot food was decently stocked. However, I don’t know if I was the only one, but the traditional take and bake pizza I got was gritty, like not good. I don’t know if I just got unlucky or this is an issue with the batch the pizza was in, but it was kinda gritty after cooking. I’ve gotten Kwik Star’s pizzas at other stores and I’ve never had any issues with their pizzas. That is why this is 4 stars instead of 5. Back to the actual store, the fountain area was actually kinda gross. There was a can of what appeared to be Liquid Death in the prep sink, luckily wasn’t opened. The trash bin below the counter was overflowing with straw wrappers. The last thing I noticed was the floor at the 2 fountain soda machines had liquid splatters. The store was busy, but that’s no excuse to not take care of that part of the store. I’ve been to busy stores in Ames, Clear Lake, Garner, and Story City and they’re nothing like this when it comes to the fountain area. The staff honestly weren’t very friendly, but they were professional enough. I will say, for all the negative I’ve talked about here, the exterior was actually clean. I got that traditional crust take and bake pizza I talked about, Glazers (2.99, normally 3.99), Cheese Curds (pretty fresh), and a 40oz Fountain. After tax, it was 18.60. I honestly recommend going to a different Kwik Star if you want a pizza or a better experience. However, if you just need to stop, this is a alright place, as it’s 2 miles from the Avenue of the Saints (US-218/IA-27 for non-locals). I hope this Kwik Star does better next time I come here.-Sincerely, Shy_Gun670”
“I have had a number of encounters with Majewski and he has always gone above and beyond to resolve my rather peculiar situations. He and his staff genuinely care for their clients and put forth extra effort to take care of their clients' vehicles. As I am witness, they produce pleasant encounters for everybody who comes to them.”
“Those spicy sandwiches. They are so good! Exceptional. Breakfast pizza is of course also good! One of my favorite things about living in the Midwest. Thank you so much!”
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.
Texas-born Buc-ee's is changing the way people think about gas stations and convenience stores. This chain is known for its huge stores along highways, some with over 100 fuel pumps. With its funny billboard ads, award-winning clean bathrooms, and branded items Buc-ee’s is hard to miss. The company wants people to actually plan to stop at Buc-ee's during road trips, not just go there as a last resort. And it's working - the chain has a huge fan base, with Facebook groups dedicated to Buc-ee's having hundreds of thousands of members.
Sheetz Inc., the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain, is making big moves in the Motor City. The company announced plans to open four more locations across metro Detroit, weeks before opening its first Michigan location. The first Michigan Sheetz will open its doors in late summer at 33380 Wick Road in Romulus. More locations are planned for Taylor, Warren, and Macomb Township, each employing around 30 people, mostly full-time.
Love's Travel Stops is rolling out a new system that turns work into a game for its restaurant employees. Picture this: Three big screens in each restaurant, tracking how fast workers greet customers, take orders, and hand out food. It's not just for show - early results say it's making service 11 seconds faster on average. "These monitors track key performance metrics in real-time, such as greet times, order processing times and the time it takes for food handoff," Love's explains. The system creates a more interactive environment, fostering friendly competition between stores.