Topeka, Kan.-based convenience store chain brings on industry veteran Ed Davidson to steer the new segment.
Street Corner, the convenience chain known for its small-square footage inline stores and mall kiosks, has announced that it has begun offering franchisees small and large street-side stores, and has engaged industry veteran Ed Davidson as part of the team that will build the new business segment.
The street-side locations further broaden Street Corner’s offerings. Besides the inline stores and kiosks, the chain has been experimenting with self-service in office buildings and other restricted settings.
“This expands Street Corner’s footprint beyond the shopping mall, which until now has been our bread-and-butter. We’re excited to literally extend the brand to the street,” said Peter LaColla, CEO of Street Corner parent McColla Enterprises. “And I can’t think of anyone better to guide us than Ed Davidson. It’s like we’re the Royals and brought in George Brett as our new coach.”
Davidson, of ER Davidson & Associates, recently retired from 7-Eleven, where he held various positions during two stints, most recently serving as a real estate manager for the Dallas-based company. In all, he has spent 45 years in the convenience, retail and gasoline industries, also working for Amoco Oil in Chicago, and BP Amoco in Virginia. From 1987-1988 he served as president of the New England Convenience Store Association.
“Ed’s varied experience is a perfect fit with Street Corner as we move to street-side, especially with the goal of creating free-standing stores with fuel down the road,” said LaColla.
Davidson will consult on everything to do with street-side, LaColla said, with an emphasis on location selection, including building from scratch and rebranding other stores.
“It’s always thrilling to have the chance to launch or grow a new market for any company, and its particularly nice to be involved with a major player such as Street Corner, whose name is synonymous with conveniences on-the-go,” said Davidson.
Street Corner is headquartered in Topeka, Kan., and currently has 45 locations in 19 states.
