CStore Decisions

  • Home
  • Today on CSD
  • Categories
    • CBD
    • Foodservice
    • Fuel & Gas
    • Health & Beauty
    • Independent Operators
    • Operations & Marketing
    • Technology
  • CStore Playbooks
    • Alcoholic Beverage Playbook
    • Candy Playbook
    • CBD Playbook
    • Foodservice Playbook
    • Technology Playbook
    • Tobacco Playbook
  • Products
    • 2022 Hot New Product Contest
    • Hot New Products Contest
    • Beverages & Cold Vault
    • Candy, Gum & Mints
    • Snacks
    • Tobacco
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Research & Downloads
    • Podcasts/How To Series
    • On Location
    • FAQ
    • 2022 Top 111 Chains
    • Leaders in Convenience
    • Rack Prices
    • Sponsored Content
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
  • Events
    • 2021 Chain of the Year
    • Convenience Directions
    • NAG Convenience Conference
    • Young Executive Organization
  • Join
    • National Advisory Group
    • Safe Shop Assured
    • Young Executive Organization

open pantrys upscale creations

By CSD Staff | January 31, 2006

Share

Years ago, communities had little voice in whether a store would be built.But as markets grew more saturated, communities felt as though they were losingtheir identities.

"Today, four or five people sit on a board and make the decision whether astore will be built," says Jim Fiene, senior vice president of Open Pantry FoodMarts of Wisconsin (Pleasant Prairie, WI). "The colors and types of materialsyou use have to be conducive to what they're asking for, which makes it mucheasier to get approvals through planning commissions and city officials."

Open Pantry has been sculpting its interior offer for some time now, integratingnew color schemes and materials to enhance its Willow Creek Coffee Bars (seeOpen Pantry's 'Golden Egg,' August '05, p. 8). This, in turn, has ledthe chain to rethink its exterior package. A more costly venture, but worthit to see a store built and making money rather than tied up in litigation.

"The stores we're building now are more like high-end homes," says Fiene. "Weuse castle stone work on the outside with neutral stucco, and there are a lotof different pitches to the roofs and lines. It all adds to the cost of buildinga store, but it differentiates us. Customers don't just prefer to shop a storelike that, they're proud to. Someone is giving up customers to us and that reinforcesthe investment and encourages us to do it in other stores."

Seven of Open Pantry's 34 stores now offer its upgraded interior offering,while the chain has two ground-ups on the market that have a full-fledged newdesign inside and out. Open Pantry hopes to have the rest of its stores transitionedto the new looks by the end of 2006.

The chain's latest prototype, however, takes the idea of a high-end home literally.As Open Pantry looked to enter even more upscale communities, company PresidentRobert A. Buhler wanted to create a prototype that borrowed design elementsfrom a Frank Lloyd Wright home he once owned. After being open just eight weeks,Fiene says, the store's design is an impressive addition to the chain's arsenaland will give Open Pantry the key to many doors that will be locked to othercompanies.

Related Articles Read More >

C-Store Investments into Foodservice Prove to be Beneficial
Acumera and Reliant logos
Acumera Acquires Edge Computing Solutions Provider
Sheetz Offers Fourth of July Fuel Discount
Cubby’s Grows Foodservice Footprint
Safe Shop Assured

CStore Decisions Newsletter

Sponsored Content

  • Create Some Positivity at the Pump: 3 Ways to Fuel Customer Experiences
  • How Minuteman Food Mart Ensures a Consistent Customer Experience Across 44 Stores
  • Three Challenges Disrupting C-Store Operations and How to Overcome Them
  • Why Wait? Converting to E15 is easy.
  • It’s time you profited from your checkout line

Get the Magazine

Subscribe Now!
Subscribe Now!

Manage Current Subscription
CStore Decisions
  • New CSD Print Subscription
  • Manage current print subscription
  • CBD Retail Trends
  • CStore Products
  • NAG Convenience Conference
  • Convenience Directions
  • Rack Prices
  • Subscribe to CSD’s E-Newsletter
  • About CStore Decisions
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search CStore Decisions

  • Home
  • Today on CSD
  • Categories
    • CBD
    • Foodservice
    • Fuel & Gas
    • Health & Beauty
    • Independent Operators
    • Operations & Marketing
    • Technology
  • CStore Playbooks
    • Alcoholic Beverage Playbook
    • Candy Playbook
    • CBD Playbook
    • Foodservice Playbook
    • Technology Playbook
    • Tobacco Playbook
  • Products
    • 2022 Hot New Product Contest
    • Hot New Products Contest
    • Beverages & Cold Vault
    • Candy, Gum & Mints
    • Snacks
    • Tobacco
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Research & Downloads
    • Podcasts/How To Series
    • On Location
    • FAQ
    • 2022 Top 111 Chains
    • Leaders in Convenience
    • Rack Prices
    • Sponsored Content
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
  • Events
    • 2021 Chain of the Year
    • Convenience Directions
    • NAG Convenience Conference
    • Young Executive Organization
  • Join
    • National Advisory Group
    • Safe Shop Assured
    • Young Executive Organization