After turning some of the broken pieces from Mountain Express Oil into a brand-new convenience store chain earlier this year, InConvenience Inc. isn’t slowing down.
In March, the company opened its first stores in Davenport and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After reaching nearly two dozen locations by the fall, InConvenience debuted a new location in Pattonsburg, Missouri, last month — its first location outside Iowa.
The store, which replaced a former SQRL Service Station, is one of five locations in Missouri that InConvenience plans to open in the next six to nine months, InConvenience CEO Tiffany Fraley said. The company also has five locations in Arkansas in the works, which are set to open in the second half of 2025.
Here’s a look inside the first Gas Spot convenience store in Missouri.
Warm and welcoming environment
Guests at the first Missouri location are immediately greeted with a fresh-painted “Hello Pattonsburg” sign inside the front entrance. This is just one way the owners hope to create a safe and welcoming environment for customers.
“Hopefully it's just a warm, friendly and inviting place to be,” InConvenience Brand Director Alicia LaFollette said.
New shelves, new sections
Every fixture in the center store aisle has been replaced with a brand new stand or display from retail merchandiser Wanzl, LaFollete said. Additionally, the 10-door beverage cooler has been rebranded to the Gulp Spot, which also features a walk-in beer cave.
Directly next to the Gulp Spot is Gas Spot’s new coffee section. Standard c-store coffee machines produced by Wilbur Curtis and Farmer Brothers Coffee Co. sit atop freshly painted cabinets and countertops in what the Gas Spot team calls the Refuel & Recharge section.
The Gathering Spot dining room
InConvenience gutted the small kitchen that was inside the SQRL convenience store and created what it calls the Gathering Spot, which will house soda fountains and frozen beverages, as well as a cooler for grab-and-go items. It also includes a freezer, which will eventually include frozen food items that customers can heat in a microwave.
The Gathering Spot also has tables and chairs where guests can sit and relax. This area has so far been “very well received” by customers — especially senior citizens who’ve been coming to the store for many years, LaFollette said.
“They're the farmers that come in as soon as we open at 6 a.m. to get their coffee, sit around, chat, talk about their work, and then get on,” she said.
Clean, bright restrooms
The store’s restrooms also received a complete overhaul prior to opening. So far, these bathrooms have become one of the biggest talking points among guests, Fraley and LaFollette said.
“They walk in and they're like, ‘Wow, it smells amazing in here — everything's so bright and clean,’” Fraley said.
Tobacco and general merchandise at the register
The checkout counter was also refreshed and received a new paint job. Guests can pick up vape products under the Hotbox and Geek Bar brands, as well as auxiliary cords, sunglasses and more.
