Robert Gordon, former NACS chairman and founder of Store 24, a convenience store chain based in the Boston area, died on June 22 at the age of 87, according to an announcement from the association. He is survived by his wife, two children, two stepchildren and six grandchildren.
Gordon founded Store 24 in 1968. The chain eventually reached about 80 locations across New England before selling its assets to regional c-store competitor Tedeschi Food Shops in 2002. Tedeschi was acquired by 7-Eleven in 2015.
“Gordon believed in being a good neighbor in each location, actively engaging with local needs and understanding what mattered most to the people he served,” NACS said in its statement. “Store 24 was involved with local organizations and hosted community events. Within the company, he encouraged and challenged employees to think boldly and believe in their own potential, and many employees grew their careers within the company.”
Gordon served as NACS chairman from 1997 to 1998 and was “instrumental” in promoting the association’s international growth during his tenure, according to the announcement. Today, NACS represents over 800 retailers and 1,750 supplier members from more than 45 countries, according to its website.
Beyond leading Store 24 and NACS, Gordon also served for a period as president of the New England Convenience Store Association.
