Dive Brief:

• Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores has launched a remodel initiative to invest more than $1 billion into 200 of the company’ stores by 2028, according to a Monday announcement.
• The retailer will invest between $2 million and $7 million into each store, which will be updated with open-kitchen concepts, multiple restaurant options, improved Love’s Truck Care and Speedco locations, and dog parks where space allows, according to the announcement. All stores will remain open during the remodeling.
• Love’s remodeled stores will have a “more modern look and open concept,” the company said. This initiative comes as c-store retailers increasingly design their locations to focus less on assortment and more on areas like shopping flow, efficiency and aesthetics.

Dive Insight:

Love hinted at its new remodel initiative back in February. At the time, the retailer said it would soon announce the plan, which would include “everything from bathroom updates to complete remodels.” 

In Monday’s announcement, the retailer said its remodel program identified which locations to update based on foot traffic, sales and the age of the store. The first locations being completed as part of the project are in El Paso, Texas and Columbia, Tennessee.

“Being strategic with how we update existing locations — and keeping them open during the process — strengthens Love’s commitment to getting customers back on the road quickly,” Randy Swain, director of construction and remodels for Love’s, said in the announcement.

Beyond remodeling 200 locations, Love’s also will tear down and rebuild three stores this year. These sites will be closed during the teardown process and reopen with an expanded footprint and new look and feel, the company said. Love’s previously did this to locations in Oklahoma City and Gary, Indiana, which reopened in February.

In addition to investing about $1 billion in new and remodeled stores this year, according to the announcement, Love’s plans to open 25 new stores in 2023.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores owns more than 610 locations in 42 states, as well as 430 truck repair locations, and has more than 39,000 employees.