Dive Brief:
- Maverik has returned to Montana several years after closing its only store in the state. The company opened a store in the capital city of Helena on March 21, according to a company announcement.
- The 5,900-square-foot store is open 24/7 and features truck and RV lanes, assisted-checkout registers and Maverik’s made-to-order food offerings like burritos, tacos, quesadillas, sandwiches, salads and pizza.
- This opening comes about nine months after Maverik confirmed that it was planning its Montana arrival, which now marks the brand’s 13th state of operation.
Dive Insight:
Maverik’s expansion to Montana highlights the company’s growth in the western U.S. over the past year. Combined with its acquisition of Kum & Go, the Salt Lake City-based company now operates over 800 convenience stores across 20 states.
Last June, Helena city records noted that Maverik spent about $4.9 million to build the store. At the time, Maverik’s spokesperson said that, once built, the nearly 6,000-square-foot location would be one of the largest sites in its network, with most of its other stores spanning between 3,300 and 5,900 square feet.
According to the Independent Record, Maverik had a c-store in Bridger, Montana, that was built in 1974, but closed in 2018. Now, its main c-store competition in Helena will be Town Pump, the Butte, Montana-based chain that operates several locations near Maverik’s first store in the state.
Maverik CEO Chuck Maggelet — who is retiring from the company on May 1 — said Montana’s outdoor landscape complements Maverik’s existing store network. According to the announcement, the store’s interior features panoramic photos and maps of Montana on the walls, as well as adventure-themed videos playing on TVs, gas pumps and soda fountains.
“Maverik features a broad distribution of stores across the Intermountain West, the part of the country that enjoys significant exposure to outdoor recreation and adventure activities including hiking, mountain climbing, biking, camping, off-roading, canoeing, and playing in the abundant State and National Parks,” Maggelet said.
Besides Montana and Utah, Maverik’s stores can be found in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.
