Rusty Lantern acquired the site in August 2022 when it purchased the Mallard Mart convenience store chain, which included four stores in Maine. A year later, Rusty Lantern began rebuilding three of the four locations, working with design partner Paragon Solutions to create a welcoming and upscale ambiance for the stores with modern restrooms, a revised floor plan, forecourt updates and the addition of full kitchens.
The newly rebuilt location in Bethel, Maine, spans an impressive 5,400 square feet and features a spacious and bright open floor plan. The store design combines practical convenience with unexpected comfort. Store customers are welcomed into inviting spaces within the location that are designed to encourage them to linger and relax. Inside, a plush lounge seating area that is situated beside the store’s signature fireplace creates a cozy retreat, while outside, guests can unwind in an outdoor seating area enhanced by ambient fire pits.
A Local Gathering Spot
“The vision was really intended to take the existing design to the next level and is meant to serve as a great local gathering place,” explained John Koch, CEO, Rusty Lantern, which operates 28 convenience stores and branded fueling stations in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. “During their stay, customers can enjoy relaxing music, free Wi-Fi, modern touchless restrooms, casual indoor seating around a fireplace or lodge-like outdoor seating.”
Koch founded Rusty Lantern in 2015. Ten years later, the c-store chain is now committed to offering customers a distinctive experience while upholding the efficiency that defines a modern convenience store.
“If our guests are in a big hurry, they can speed through using the self-service registers,” noted Koch. “Or for the ultimate convenience, they can order ahead online to get nearly all the store, beverage and food items ready for in-store pickup or delivery.”
Foodservice is a key focus of the store’s new layout. Customers can watch uniformed chefs in white coats prepare made-to-order and grab-and-go meals in an expanded open-concept kitchen, sending the message that “gas station food” has evolved into something much more refined.
The layout of the floor plan also creates pathways for both customers who want to stay awhile and those who are seeking quick in-and-out shopping trips. As shoppers navigate the store, they can browse local New England products alongside national convenience items, order barista-prepared coffee, enjoy a seasonal lobster roll or select a Maine craft beverage.
The store’s restrooms are spacious and bright with high-end touchless fixtures and fresh flowers.
In the forecourt, the chain added more Irving fuel pumps to help customers fuel up quickly.
“Rusty Lantern features Irving’s Top Tier fuels, all three grades of gasoline, diesel, high-speed diesel pumps for large vehicles and off-road,” Koch elaborated further.
The updated forecourt is also brightly lit, provides easier access to the pumps and the store, and offers ample parking for guests.
The store’s successful design was built around the brand’s key pillars: fresh food made on-site, barista-prepared coffee, local and craft product selections, impeccable cleanliness and exceptional customer service. And guest feedback shows the effort has paid off. Customers have noted that they appreciate Rusty Lantern’s attention to detail — from its forecourt to its fireplace — because it shows the chain cares.
