7-Eleven and 350Green help drivers re-charge vehicles in under 30 minutes at Illinois Tollway Oases. Governor Pat Quinn and representatives from the Illinois Tollway, 350Green LLC and 7-Eleven Inc. have announced the availability of the nation’s largest network of fast-charging electric vehicle (EV) stations. As part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to increasing sustainability across Illinois,…
Buck’s Inc. Selling Chicago Convenience Stores
Both company-owned company-operated sites and company-owned dealer-operated locations are available for purchase. Buck’s Inc. is selling 62 properties located in the greater Chicago and St. Louis metropolitan areas by sealed bid sale. The St. Louis deadline (Feb. 22) has passed, but the Chicago bid deadline is set for March 8. NRC Realty & Capital…
Starbucks Branches Into Beer, Wine
New Chicago area stores to feature upscale menu, spirits and live entertainment. Starbucks plans to open up to seven stores featuring beer and wine in addition to coffee in the Chicago area by the end of 2012, the Chicago Tribune reported. The Seattle-based coffee giant has been testing a more community-oriented store concept to improve…
Retail Gasoline Prices to Ease off Five-Month High
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN Wholesale gasoline prices across the U.S. moved lower during the second full week of October, halting a march higher in gasoline costs that started in September. The decline in wholesale gasoline costs will pressure retail gasoline prices that have been moving sharply higher during a time…
Wal-Mart To Enter C-Store Market
Wal-Mart is entering the convenience store market starting with large cities, such as San Francisco, Chicago and Detroit, the Financial Times reported. The big box chain is reportedly has been looking at smaller-format sites between 20,000-50,000 square feet this summer. The company expects to outline its business plans later this year, Bill Simon, Wal-Mart’s CEO…
7-Eleven Tests Chicken Sales
7-Eleven is expanding its food offering, testing sales of whole roasted chicken at some downtown Chicago stores this week, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. “It’s to see if we can capitalize on home meal replacement,” Carole Davidson, senior vice president of strategic planning for the Dallas-based chain told the Chicago Sun-Times. The whole roasted chicken, priced…
Pencil Pushers
7-Eleven Inc. wants to make sure Chicago schoolchildren have the “write” stuff when they head back to class this fall. As part of its Hispanic marketing and community outreach program, the convenience retailer is donating a package of No. 2 pencils for every package local customers purchase as a donation to Chicago-area students. Suggested retail…
Walgreens Competes With Chicago C-stores on Food
Walgreens today is unveiling its new expanded food selection in several Chicago communities identified as food deserts, or areas that lack access to basic foods necessary to maintain a healthy diet. Walgreens has redesigned 10 of its stores on Chicago’s South and West Sides to include more than 750 new food items including fresh fruits…
Walmart Infiltrates Chicago
Chicago retailers could face increased big box competition now that Walmart has announced its goal to build several dozen stores in the city over the next five years. Part of a long-term initiative called the “Chicago Community Investment Partnership,” the new plan between the city of Chicago and Walmart would help eradicate food deserts and…