Monday, October 2, 2017

Vacant Buford Highway Corner Could Receive New RaceTrac

Atlanta-based RaceTrac recently submitted plans to the City of Chamblee for the construction of a new fuel center and convenience store on Chamblee Tucker Road at Buford Highway.  The new RaceTrac would be built at 2443 Chamblee Tucker Road in place of what was many years ago a portion of the Kelley Toyota dealership.  More recently, there were plans to turn the parcel into Viet Town Center, an Asian oriented business, that never materialized.  Currently, the site sits vacant.  
Most new RaceTrac locations look like the above store 

The parcel, which city documents indicate is just over 3.6 acres, would be developed into an approximately 5,400 square foot convenience store with 16 fuel pumps and 40 parking spaces.  

When contacted for comment, Liz McIntyre, Communications Manager with RaceTrac, said of the company's plans: "We are currently seeking permits and approvals on this site."

The RaceTrac proposal, like the nearby McDonald's ToNeTo Atlanta reported on last week, will be heard by Chamblee's City Council at their regularly scheduled meeting October 12.  A decision on the proposal is expected October 17.  

About two miles away, at the corner of Dresden Drive and Clairmont Road, RaceTrac is underway with another new location that McIntyre tells ToNeTo Atlanta is expected to open in December.  

Elsewhere in metro Atlanta, RaceTrac is in the planning stages or under construction with new locations in Marietta (2), East Cobb, Atlanta and McDonough.  

The Marietta locations, Burnt Hickory Road & Whitlock Avenue and 840 Church Street, are expected to open in the first and second quarters of 2018 respectively, according to McIntyre.  

The McDonough store, planned for the intersection of Jodeco Road & Patrick Henry Parkway, is expected to open in the second quarter of 2018.  

RaceTrac locations planned for East Cobb (Roswell Road & Old Canton Road and Atlanta (Bolton Road & Marietta Boulevard), which represents a relocation, are both still in planning stages according to McIntyre. 

RaceTrac currently has over 85 stores in Georgia. The company's new store prototype features a Swirl World frozen dessert station as well as a larger, more expansive coffee area.

RaceTrac rival, Tulsa, Oklahoma-based QuikTrip has a number of re-builds and relocations underway in metro Atlanta as well as a few completely new locations.  

QuikTrip is actively working to rebuild their Sage Hill area location on Briarcliff Road that they closed earlier this summer.  The new location will be larger, on roughly the same parcel of land, and is expected to re-open in mid-late November.  QuikTrip is also building a new location in an outparcel of Northeast Plaza on Buford Highway in Brookhaven.  The new gas station and convenience store, like the expanded Sage Hill location, will feature the company's "Gen 3" design with an expanded convenience store among the more notable updates.  The new Brookhaven location will replace the smaller, older QT across the street.  The new QT is expected to open in mid-late December according to Mike Thornbrugh,  Manager of Public & Government Affairs for QuikTrip.  

In Norcross, QuikTrip is underway rebuilding their previously demolished  store into a new, larger, "Gen 3" gas station and convenience store at the corner of Oakbrook Parkway and Indian Trail Road.  The New Norcross location is expected to open by mid-December according to Thornbrugh.  

QuikTrip is also under construction with a completely new location on Howell Mill Road on the Westside.  As ToNeTo Atlanta previously reported, the location was met with substantial neighborhood push-back, but finally started construction earlier this year.  Thornbrugh indicates that this location is on track to open in late December.  

QuikTrip also recently started site work  on a new gas station and convenience store at 5795 Jimmy Carter Boulevard in  Norcross.  The new 5,773 square foot gas station, a "Gen 3" location, will replace the current QuikTrip across the street.  The new QT replaces a former Pier 1 Imports retail store and is expected to open in the first quarter of next year. 

Later this month (October 17-20), NACS, the National Association of Convenience Stores, will hold its annual convention in Chicago.  The convention, which rotates cities and was last year in Atlanta, showcases the latest and greatest in c-store technology as well as food and beverage offerings, among other things.

What is the weirdest thing you've seen offered for sale in a convenience store?  What one product or category of product would you most like to see added to convenience stores?  If given the choice and if the price was the same, would you patronize Costco, Kroger, BP, RaceTrac or QuikTrip for your fuel needs?

Please share your thoughts below.     

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Costco or Quicktrip. Their gas has high ratings.

Anonymous said...

This is being discussed on FB by residents of the area. Chamblee mayor just chimed in that a gas station is not an approved use for the zoning in the Buford Highway corridor, and cannot be given a usage variance. Because of that he is saying this won't be heard at the next work session.

CloseOTP said...

Echoing Douglas above... It's too bad that Racetrac doesn't use top tier gas like QT does. The stations are the same price so clearly the upgrade can't be that much. I'd prefer to support the local company (Racetrac), but until they provide top tier, I go to QT (unless I'm near Costco - and there's no line!!)

Anonymous said...

Hands down THE BEST GAS IS SHELL. PERIOD. Just wish it was cheaper. BJ's, Sam's and Costco have the best value. QT over Racetrac ... Both have good gas station food believe it or not. Kroger is a rip off with that fuel game they play. The raise the dollar amount so when you use your one time 30 cent off it equals to be still more expensive than BJ/SAM'S/COSTCO! Shop around and you'll see. NEVER use BP gas. My Mercedes, BMW and Volvo all had problems after one use. Never again. Btw I my review is based on premium gas and not regular/mid grade. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

... My Mercedes, BMW and Volvo all had problems after one use ...

IF you can afford those vehicles, then you SHOULD be able to happily pay for the top tier premium petrol that is required to make them operate efficiently. SMH at the American lifestyle of yearning to look rich, but being house and now obviously automobile poor. The wealthy do not whine ad nauseam about everyday commodities such as gasoline prices.

Anonymous said...

2016 U.S. electricity generation: Natural gas 33.8% Coal 30.4% Nuclear 19.7%
Renewables (total) 14.9% Petroleum 0.6% Other gases 0.3%

Anonymous said...

Oh shop at aldi already anonymous 8:47 - what a person can't give a review without you being negative? Rich, poor, middle class - most people like to save money. We are no longer on your plantation!!

Sanni said...

Vegan products..pizza, almond milk, non dairy froyo and other snacks

Anonymous said...

Go to Race Trac! Shop around and you'll see. NEVER use Chevon gas. My Bentley, Aston Martin and Maserati all had problems after one use. Never again. Btw my review is based on regular unleaded gas and not premium and/or mid grade. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Wow anonymous 12:53pm - you precious thing, matchbox cars don't take any type of gas. But if you insist on gas, use the gas inside you. Fart by pulling your finger.

Anonymous said...

"Fart by pulling your finger"

Wow, so you eat the taquitos at Race Trac for fuel! Sounds like something you are very intimate with performing. So glad you've found a way to entertain yourself while providing fuel for your vehicle and reducing your carbon footprint all at the same time. Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

I am about mother earth! Don't judge! Times are not so good right no with my book tour. So I eat at racetrack to save money.

Love hilary and bill.

Anonymous said...

RaceTrac fuel is no different than QT and actually most of RaceTrac’s competition buys there fuel. Know your facts before you comment. I have never had a problem with any of my vehicles and I fill up there every week. RaceTrac is a much nicer store than QT as well. Who likes QT there stores are not even close to as nice.

Anonymous said...

From Cars.com ... 10 tips gas stations don't want you to know:

3) There’s no such thing as “better gas.” Companies like Chevron try to tell you their gas is superior because it has Techron in it. However, all gas has detergents that prevent clogging in the fuel injector, and no brand of gas is better than any other. Don’t buy more expensive fuel just to get a brand name.

My Lexus manual as well as the dealer says I need to use Premium grade fuel. I have owned this vehicle for over 13 years and have only put used grade gas from Kroger, QT, RaceTrac, etc ... whatever is cheapest at the time I need it. 150K miles and counting ...

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