Dive Brief:
- New Format Launch: Golightly & Long, operating under the Acee’s banner in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois, has introduced a mini travel center format, designed by Paragon Solutions.
- Location and Size: The new 7,300-square-foot store in Fulton, Kentucky, is over 30% larger than previous sites, opened in May, and held its grand opening in August.
- Sales Performance: Initial sales figures show food and diesel outperforming projections, while beer and fuel categories are below expectations.
Dive Insight:
The mini travel center targets professional drivers, featuring dedicated truck access, ample parking for large vehicles, showers, laundry facilities, and a diesel canopy close to the store. Nathan Long, president of Golightly & Long, noted the efficient layout despite land constraints.
The store incorporates an open sales area with three food service options: Quiznos, AC’s Chicken Fingers, and Crazy Italian Pizza, allowing customers to order at registers or kiosks. The design aims to attract interstate travelers, enhancing visibility of food offerings.
Acee’s also rebranded, adopting a streamlined logo surrounded by “Community Driven.” The Fulton location, on a site previously occupied by a Holiday Inn along Purchase Parkway—soon to be Interstate 69—is attracting local customers but anticipates a shift as interstate traffic increases.
Future plans for the mini travel center format aren’t fully disclosed, but a smaller version is set for Illinois.
