Sheetz plans major expansion in Pennsylvania

The retailer aims to open approximately 30 new locations within the next three or five years to expand its footprint across the state.

Sheetz aims to expand its store footprint and is planning to open new locations in the states of Pennsylvania and Ohio. By contacting real estate services and investment firm CBRE Group, through its connection with the convenience store-focused real estate development company RBG Development,  the retailer is exploring potential sites to build new stores in.

CBRE will source and negotiate the purchase of nearly 1.5-to 3.0-acre high-traffic and high visibility sites for 30 new stores in Pennsylvania. The company’s objective is to leverage the increase of the sector’s sales due to shifts in consumer behaviour directly linked to consumer mobility.

Sheetz believes that there is still potential to grow in the western region of the state as it starts looking for new communities to enter. The firm currently operates more than 650 convenience stores throughout six states as one of the most prominent players of the retail market in the country.

“Even though Sheetz has a long history in western Pennsylvania, there are many areas that could benefit from the 24/7 convenience that our company provides,” said Brian Dinges, Assistant Vice President of Real Estate for the chain, as reported by Pittsburgh’s Post-Gazette.

Regarding its Ohio expansion, the company stated a few weeks ago that it is looking to open approximately 20 locations over the next five years. Its latest opening was celebrated in the middle of July, when the firm inaugurated its 16th store in the state.

The 6,000-square-foot site was set to open sooner than it did but final development plans as well as the approval from the local authorities were delayed amidst the Covid-19 crisis. Now Sheetz wants to make up for lost time and resume its expansion strategy for the next three to four years.