The retailer this past summer launched its first FriendShip Kitchen store in Elyria, Ohio.
FriendShip Stores, a convenience, food and fuel retailer in northeast Ohio is expanding its FriendShip Kitchen concept with the opening of a new location on Bagley Road in Olmsted Township, Ohio.
The 4,350 square-foot store is the 26th location in the convenience chain, which operates along the shores of Lake Erie, from Toledo to Cleveland.
Beck Suppliers Inc. is a petroleum marketer that owns and operates the FriendShip chain. The family business offers other services that include gasoline, diesel and propane distribution, tank installation and removal, automatic car wash equipment and air vending machines.
The company this past summer launched its first FriendShip Kitchen store in Elyria, Ohio. The 5,500-square-foot store contains a full-service kitchen, gourmet coffee bar, upscale restrooms and a beer cave with touch-free doors. The building’s architecture, layout, materials and graphics were developed in conjunction with a complete brand refreshment.
The company’s new Olmsted Township store has all most of the same amenities.
COFFEE KLATCH
FriendShip was recently recognized by the Beacon News as the business in Ottawa County providing the best customer service. FriendShip was also voted number one for coffee among convenience stores and second overall including coffee shops and restaurants. This was the fifth year that the Beacon News has run its Best of the Best contest.
“From the first store we opened in Port Clinton in 1986, we have always had one thing in mind—treating customers like guests in their own home” said Brian Beck, senior vice president of FriendShip.
While all stores offer coffee and cappuccino, the Ottawa County stores offer FriendShip’s recently enhanced hot beverage offer. Each pot of coffee is made from freshly ground, mountain-grown, hand-picked beans.
“We have completely revamped our coffee program over the past year, evaluating and modifying our entire supply chain” said Ed Burcher, vice president of food service. “We are now grinding beans in store, rotating our limited time offers more consistently and have changed most equipment to enable us to brew a tastier, more consistent cup of coffee that delights our guests.”