Dive Brief:
- RaceTrac has opened its first location in Memphis, Tennessee, the convenience retailer announced on Wednesday.
- The store, a travel center located at 3412 Lamar Ave., is RaceTrac’s 37th site in Tennessee, per its website. It’s also the company’s westernmost location in the state, with nearly all of the other sites located in either the Nashville or Chattanooga areas.
- Arriving in Memphis presents an opportunity for RaceTrac to reach more markets along the Mississippi River, where the Atlanta-based retailer has plenty of white space to grow.
Dive Insight:
RaceTrac called its Memphis arrival “an exciting milestone” as it continues expanding into new communities. The retailer will face competition from several established operators, including a Love’s Travel Stop directly across the street, a Circle K down the road and multiple dollar stores.
“Located conveniently along the I-40 corridor, this new travel center marks the mid-way point between our Dallas/Fort Worth and Nashville markets, giving professional drivers and long-distance travelers a perfect place to stop between,” RaceTrac said Wednesday.
The Memphis opening comes as RaceTrac pursues several other growth initiatives, including major remodel programs in Florida and Texas, continued expansion in Ohio and North Carolina and the integration of Potbelly, the QSR chain it acquired for $566 million last year.
The move also puts RaceTrac within reach of several untapped markets, particularly along the Mississippi River. Arkansas, where the company currently operates just two locations, could offer room for further growth, while nearby Missouri and Illinois would represent entirely new territory for the retailer.
