[UPDATE] RaceTrac Shutters Downtown Store After Latest Shooting

After a string of violent incidents, RaceTrac has decided to close its short-lived Downtown Atlanta location.  Situated at the corner of Piedmont and John Wesley Dobbs Avenues in the street level of The Mix student housing development (120 Piedmont Avenue), the small format, eight fuel pump RaceTrac opened in late 2019 and marked the Atlanta-based fuel provider's first "non-traditional brick and mortar" location. 

The most recent incident at the convenience store - a fight between three individuals Sunday that left one 21 year old male dead - was just the latest in a series of alarming crimes at or near the business.  This past October four people - including two Georgia State students - were victims of gun violence at the business and while there were no fatalities, the incidents were nonetheless alarming to students, property owners, and the public at large.  A Georgia State student was also shot and killed at the gas station in December 2022.  

The decision to close the store was swift.  

Monday afternoon RaceTrac CEO Natalie Morhous released the following statement:

"I am deeply saddened by the recent senseless acts of violence at and near this store," said CEO Natalie Morhous. "As an Atlanta-based business, we did not reach this decision lightly. We know how important our stores are to the community: They are open to guests 24/7/365, they create local jobs, they generate taxes, and play a critical role in the states in which they operate. However, RaceTrac can only be successful when our stores are safe for our team members and our guests."  

Morhous, 40, a third generation leader within the family-owned company, was named RaceTrac's CEO as of January 2, 2024. 

When RaceTrac opened, it marked the return of a gas station and convenience store to the area following the 2018 closure of the longstanding Shell on the same property.  The Shell, which had problems of its own, was referred to by Georgia State student newspaper "The Signal" as "Shady Shell" in a 2019 report.  

A Change.org petition from March 2023 cited "a substantial amount of gun violence, robberies, and sexual misconduct issues" and called for the RaceTrac to be "SHUT DOWN."  The petition has received nearly 1,300 signatures including 69 this week, according to the website.  

At the time of the October 2023 shooting, a report from WSB-TV quoted a student who referred to the RaceTrac as "The Infamous RaceTrac."  

ToNeTo Atlanta visited the Downtown RaceTrac a half dozen or so times and always found the store active but seemingly ill-maintained with trash littering the outside and the inside often poorly stocked.  

Furthermore, RaceTrac hired a patrol officer to alleviate security concerns but during at least one of our visits, we observed the officer with headphones on, fully absorbed by their phone and ignoring the activity of the store.  According to Georgia State, the company hired an off-duty police officer to provide store security earlier this year.  

RaceTrac's closure follows the January announcement by In-N-Out that for the first time in their history they are closing a location.  The West Coast burger joint will close its Oakland restaurant as of March 24 due to customers and associates regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies, according to the company.  

The RaceTrac closure is effective immediately.  Affected store employees will be offered opportunities to continue employment at one of the other 127 RaceTrac locations in Georgia.  Overall the Atlanta-based company operates more than 570 stores throughout ten states. 

What are your thoughts on the closure of the Downtown RaceTrac?  What would you like to see open in place of RaceTrac Downtown?  All things being equal, do you prefer QuikTrip or Racetrac, why?   

Please share your thoughts below.