“The two new ladies that started working there are very refreshing. It's nice to walk into place and see a smiling , happy face. They are very nice and pleasant. Good job on hiring those two!? A couple of gems.”
“Reviews mentioned confederate flags but flag are no longer posted. Bathrooms are bleach cleaned. Prices were cheap compared to other stores that are middle of nowhere. Will stop by again.”
“Really like this store... Great location; plenty of room for parking, tho you might have to park on the sides of the store when it's busy. Place is well lit at night and it's location is an easy on / off 35 Bi-Pass at Market. Pumps are state of the art; offering 5 different fuel choices including Non-Ethanol Premium. Whoa.... What the heck is "Non-Ethanol Premium" you ask? Well, simply put, it's pure gas; used long before Ethanol-based gas was mandated by Congress in 1990 (Clean Air Act). Since then, Ethanol blending tax credits/subsidies have created a profit motive to over-blend Ethanol above 10%. Some stores are now selling 15%. (Note that Valero currently sells 10% at this location). Okay... Sooo.. What's wrong with Ethanol? On it's face, Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel that is distilled from plant materials, namely sugar and corn. The biggest problem is it attracts and absorbs moisture, leading to water contamination. 10% Ethanol (E10) gas will "phase separate" which is very damaging to automotive engines. Basically the ethanol / water goes to the bottom leaving sub par octane on top; the very definition of "bad gas" that causes all kinds of engine problems / failure. Small engines (lawn mowers, chainsaws, boat motors) that sit for long periods of time where the fuel may not get used up and replenished on a timely basis should never use Ethanol blended fuels. Even the EPA has stated that the large-scale production of corn and soybeans to produce ethanol-based gasoline harms the environment. They found that Ethanol made from corn has the highest emissions output compared to ethanol gas made from other sources. Since most Ethanol plants in the United States are powered by coal, greenhouse gas emissions derived from Ethanol production contribute negatively to the environment. Additionally, the EPA stated that Ethanol production can adversely affect ecosystems, bodies of water, and accelerate the loss of organic matter and nutrients found in certain soils. Ethanol is a strong solvent, cleanser and degreaser, and highly corrosive. It wreaks havoc on rubber gaskets and causes rust inside your engine. It can also lead to overheating your engine (increased oxygen levels). Opposite side of the coin... States like Iowa for instance have seen a huge boon in their agriculture industry. Ethanol remains one of the top exports in the United States; nearly 30 million barrels of Ethanol were exported out of the country in 2011 alone, with about 20 million barrels being exported consistently per year since 2014. In 2020, U.S. Ethanol exports totaled 1.3 Billion gallons. Overall, the US relies on Ethanol exports for nearly $7 billion to the economy and over 47,000 jobs for citizens. So now you know... The debate rages on. Using pure gas (Non-Ethanol) gives better gas mileage, less harm to your engine, longer shelf life, less dependence on Ethanol crops and more. Gas mileage will vary; a 4-banger Camry with Non-Ethanol won't offer the same results you'd see in an 8 cylinder RAM Hemi, yet in our experience we got better gas mileage no matter what vehicle we tested.”
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.