Dive Brief:
- RaceTrac’s first store in North Carolina is expected to open in late September, a company spokesperson confirmed on Monday.
- This expansion, first revealed in early 2024, will start in Monroe, about 25 miles southeast from downtown Charlotte, the spokesperson said. The site will be RaceTrac’s 600th store overall.
- RaceTrac is in good company in expanding to North Carolina, joining retailers like Wawa, Dash In and Nouria in building or acquiring stores in the state.
Dive Insight:
RaceTrac’s North Carolina expansion is one of many new states RaceTrac has targeted in recent years. It’s also debuted in Indiana, South Carolina and Ohio.
Its first North Carolina site will feature a more than 6,000-square-foot store on 3.5 acres along Highway 74.
The site will have 14 fueling positions along with three high-flow diesel fueling lanes that also offer diesel exhaust fluid, the spokesperson said. Inside the store, RaceTrac will offer its foodservice program, which includes pizza, sandwiches and salads, as well as Swirl World frozen yogurt and roller grill items like hot dogs and Tornados.
“We believe the region’s vibrant economy and welcoming communities present a tremendous opportunity for our innovative approach to enhance customer accessibility and service while meeting the growing demand for convenient and quality options for fuel and food,” said Trey Spivey, real estate vice president for RaceTrac.
RaceTrac received zoning approval early last year for a site in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, according to a report from the Rocky Mountain Telegram.
While this will be RaceTrac’s first foray into the Tar Heel State, its franchised banner, RaceWay, has nine locations there, according to the company’s website.
The retailer has also continued improving its technology while expanding its footprint, including boosting forecourt monitoring tech and temperature monitoring, as well as adding a new distribution center in Louisiana to improve its supply chain.
