Street Corner Opening New Gas Station Stores in Aberdeen, Ipswich

Two new convenience stores arriving in the Aberdeen area are looking to shake up how consumers think of “gas station stores,” with an array of high-tech, convenience staples, and food offerings that might just make them destinations in themselves.

Street Corner, a 32-year-old convenience chain with locations in 19 states, opened its first location with gas in Aberdeen in November, and a second will inhabit the landmark Buffalo station in Ipswich in the first quarter of 2022. Both stores are virtual test beds for the latest trends in the industry, from more welcoming interior and external design elements to more diverse menus than the typical grab-and-go fare. The Aberdeen location, paired with a Sinclair Gas station, even includes a sports bar and casino.

“We’re very excited to bring a new definition of ‘convenience store’ to the Aberdeen area. Our goal is to create an inviting environment with seating, good lighting and gourmet fare, while maintaining the in-and-out convenience road warriors appreciate,” said Toby Doeden, who owns the Aberdeen and Ipswich stores with partners Liz Doeden, Kevin Pharis and Kara Pharis. “At-the-pump ordering and payment at the Aberdeen store, along with drive thru and great food selections at both, should appeal to customers making a pit stop and those who want to linger for a bit while enjoying an easy meal or watching a football game.”

The Aberdeen location lets customers in a hurry order in-store items and pay for them in the same transaction with their gas purchase, all on a user-friendly 27-inch touch-screen in the gas pump, with pick up in the store or at a drive-thru. Both Aberdeen and Ipswich also employ self-checkout kiosks inside the stores themselves.

But the food is the main draw of the new stores. While both feature prepackaged fresh offerings like fruit, salads, sandwiches and wraps, Street Corner has engaged a renowned chef and veteran food consultant to create more exotic offerings. The result is a menu of made-to-order pizzas and sandwiches using naan as the platform, with varieties including Buffalo Chicken, Spinach and Pesto, Beeef Bulgogi, Margarita and Chicken Chipotle. Street Corner has branded the new fare as “Naan Traditional.”

The stores also serve breakfast foods and gourmet salads, and will provide catering services. The goal, according to Street Corner CEO Vikram Dhillon, is to make every store a local destination for food and essentials, regardless of whether you need to gas up or not.

“People will go out of their way, or at least make a special trip, for food they like and they see as a good value. Convenience stores and gas station stores have to adapt in order to thrive, and if you can draw in repeat visitors and not just drivers passing by, you’ll become a part of the neighborhood fabric,” Dhillon said.

About Street Corner

Street Corner has 38 franchisee-owned stores in 19 states. Formats include mall stores and kiosks, Street Corner Express stores, Urban Market stores and Street Corner with Gas. Seventy-three percent of Street Corner stores are minority-owned, and the company has repeatedly been named by USA Today as a top franchise for minorities. For more information on Street Corner, visit www.streetcorner.com or call 785-272-8529.