QuikTrip (QT) will soon close its standalone "gas-less" convenience store in Midtown. The 24-hour store at Peachtree and 6th Streets will close Friday, May 3, according to a company representative.
ToNeTo Atlanta was tipped off to the impending closure April 18, at which time we contacted Aisha Jefferson-Smith, QuikTrip's corporate communications manager, regarding the potential closure. Ignored for several days, we were eventually told days later that the store was not closing anytime soon. It's unclear what suddenly changed.
The Midtown QT focused on food and beverage offerings including prepared food from "QT Kitchens," much like many 7-Eleven stores in New York City.
QuikTrip's Midtown closure comes just two months after the abrupt closure of the RaceTrac gas station and convenience store Downtown near the Georgia State University campus. Representatives from both QT and RaceTrac cited crime, among other reasons, for the closures.
The Midtown QT was located across the street from an existing CVS Pharmacy and one block south of DGX, an urban-oriented concept from Dollar General, which opened in 2020. Both of the other businesses remain open.
Sources close to QT told ToNeTo Atlanta several years ago that the company had looked at adding a second "gas-less" convenience store along Peachtree Street downtown where Planet Hollywood once operated, but ultimately abandoned those plans. A Chase Bank and a Wahlburgers eventually opened in the space, but only the Chase remains open today.
A second "gas-less" QT opened in Downtown Tulsa in 2022. The QT, located in the "Center Court Food Hall" in BOK Tower at One Williams Center, is smaller than the Midtown unit and employs Amazon's "Just Walk Out" technology. (Amazon has itself ditched the "friction-less" technology from many of its own stores and it's unclear if QT has, too.) Unlike the Midtown unit, however, which was open 24/7, the Tulsa location is only open to the public Monday through Friday from 7AM until 6PM.
Georgia is QuikTrip’s second-busiest market with 167 locations. Chief rival RaceTrac, which is based in Atlanta near Truist Park, operates just 126 locations in the state.
Atlanta-based Coro Realty Advisors owns the Shops at Viewpoint and is already marketing the space for lease with a source close to the landlord telling ToNeTo Atlanta Coro is looking to land a restaurant in the prime corner space.
Are you surprised to see QuikTrip close its "gas-less" convenience store in Midtown Atlanta? What would you like to see open in place of QuikTrip once it closes? What is your favorite convenience store operator?
Please share your thoughts below
14 comments:
I am sad for the nearby college students that used this QT location but really not surprised to hear it’s closing due to crime, what a shame. QT is my go-to convenience store, but Racetrac is a close second.
I'll miss the um..convenience of it being there but they definitely had a major panhandling problem compared to other QTs, without gas pumps there were no employees coming in and out of the front door to see who was lurking out there.
Crime? Midtown Blue is literally right next door
QT is finally clearing a very old shopping center on Memorial Drive in Decatur. I heard about this potentially happening 2 years ago.
Does Midtown Blue close at 5:00 PM like the Buckhead Village precinct?
It’s been so convenient, but the panhandling and the loitering outside have been a challenge since day 1.
Atlanta City need to really do something about the crime. It’s getting out of hand. Really sad they are closing, but safety is important
Theft, mean muggin’, homeless, intimidating patrons. I’m not surprised at all. I fear this is the beginning of a lot of flight from Midtown that’s about to happen over the next years. I’ve already seen it happen with some of my friends vacating that area. It’s very sad.
We need more Buc-ees
Midtown blue is literally right there. I think it's more low sales than anything. Additionally staffing was never great
It’s going to just be a big empty area soon, like on the show Life After People! Probably before summer is over. People better start moving out today or risk being murdered or robbed. Inevitable.
I mean….its still there. When did it close?
Put it there! It will be good
Friday May 3. It’s in the article. Can’t you read it?
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