Yesway to Grow Footprint in the South in 2024
Yesway, an emerging convenience store operator established in 2015, is expanding its presence in Oklahoma, with its portfolio of stores in the state expected to stand at 15 locations by the end of 2024.
Yesway is a multi-branded platform headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It operates 435 stores primarily under two chains — Yesway and Allsup's — located in Texas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Yesway operates five existing Oklahoma-based Allsup's stores in southwestern parts of the state in Altus, Frederick and Guymon, and in the south-central part in Madill. The company recently opened its newest stores in Broken Bow, a small southeastern city, and Thackerville, located near the Texas border.
Two more southern Oklahoma locations are slated to open in the first quarter of the year in Davis and Tushka, a tiny town of less than 500, according to the 2021 census.
The Thackerville Allsup's location represents the company's first "true" interstate store, with the majority of the anticipated traffic coming off of Interstate 35, given its proximity to the WinStar World Casino, as well as being supported by the local community, the company said in a media release.
The company plans to soon begin construction on three additional Allsup's locations, in Elk City, Blanchard and Kiowa so that by early summer the Allsup's presence in Oklahoma should comprise 12 stores.
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These Allsup's stores (and soon-to-be-open stores) are the latest featuring the new large format Yesway developed and is bringing to market. The 6,277-square-foot stores are open 24 hours a day and offer Allsup's popular burritos; a full assortment of Yesway and Allsup's private-label snacks; fresh bread, milk and eggs; and a beer cave; along with amenities including Western Union service and ATMs.
"We are looking to further expand in the state and are in search of additional sites," Thomas Brown, president, Yesway, said in the release. "With land we have under contract in Ardmore, Atoka and Okarche, and additional sites under consideration in Eufaula and McAllister, we expect to have a minimum of 15 stores in Oklahoma open and operating by the end of 2024.
"In Oklahoma, we realized that many of its towns were underserved with a good convenience store operator that is focused on customer service and providing quality products with a strong value proposition; customers have long requested Allsup's in those communities, and we are excited to bring our new stores there," Brown added.
In addition to making moves in Oklahoma, Yesway has also opened a new Allsup's Express concept store in Denton, Texas, located next to the University of North Texas (UNT) campus.
The Allsup's Express store is a 3,000-square-foot bodega-style store open 24 hours per day. It is focused on serving the UNT community and students with an assortment of merchandise curated to meet their needs, including energy drinks, bottled waters, teas, hot coffee, cold fountain sodas, shakes, snacks, hot and fresh to-go meals, beer and wine. The store also offers Allsup's Rewards program.
In addition, Yesway will host grand opening celebrations of Allsup's stores located in Cloudcroft and Taos, New Mexico, and Granbury and Denton, Texas, in April and May.