Dive Brief:

• Royal Farms plans to open its first store in Richmond, Virginia, according to a press release issued this week.
• The company also highlighted plans for additional locations in the state, including stores in Virginia Beach, Abingdon, Norfolk, Bedford and Rustburg. While most of the state’s current Royal Farms locations operate near the coast, the Abingdon, Bedford, and Rustburg locations are much further inland.
• These planned openings follow the convenience retailer’s recent expansion into North Carolina, where it now has three stores and plans to open more. The company has also outlined a large geographical jump into Michigan, where it will begin opening stores within the next few years.

Dive Insight:

Royal Farms is making a significant westward push in the state of Virginia. Currently, the chain doesn’t have any stores west of Interstate 95, but that will change with the Abingdon, Bedford and Rustburg locations.

The Richmond and second Virginia Beach locations will both be open all day, every day, and will feature the chain’s foodservice program, including its signature chicken options, breakfast sandwiches and more. The Richmond location, at 10301 Midlothian Turnpike, will have 14 fuel pumps while the new Virginia Beach location at 2204 Princess Anne Road will have 16 fuel pumps and a car wash. No opening date has been released for the Richmond store, while the Virginia Beach addition will open sometime this month.

Further information about the other locations has not yet been released.

While most of these planned Virginia locations don’t have opening dates yet, tickets will be available on Eventbrite for “soft opening” events. Those with tickets will be able to try one free meal from the soft open menu. 

Royal Farms is one of several prominent c-store chains making big expansion moves. Wawa is in the midst of expanding from seven to 14 states while York, Pennsylvania-based Rutter’s plans to move into Virginia and Delaware. Lake Jackson, Texas-based Buc-ee’s has set its sights on numerous states, while Parker’s has not only made plans to move into Florida, but also to greatly expand its reach in Georgia.

Founded in 1959, Baltimore-based Royal Farms operates more than 270 c-stores throughout Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.