Liquor Stores

Houston -- Susser Holdings Corporation and Susser Petroleum Partners LP have closed their previously announced acquisition of the convenience store assets and fuel distribution contracts of Sac-n-Pac Stores, Inc. and 3W Warren Fuels, Ltd.

Samuel Adams is ready to share Rebel IPA with drinkers across the nation. The IPA offers consumers citrus aromas along with piney, resinous notes that come from West Coast hops.

Rebel IPA was one of the first beers to be developed in the Samuel Adams nanobrewery, a small batch, 10-gallon brewery system that operates within the confines of the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The U.S. convenience store count increased to 151,282 stores as of December 31, 2013, a 1.4% increase (2,062 stores) from the year prior, according to the 2014 NACS/Nielsen Convenience Industry Store Count. Convenience stores account for 34.3% of all retail outlets in the United States, according to Nielsen, which is significantly higher than the U.S. total of other retail channels including drug stores (41,378 stores), supermarket/supercenter (37,459 stores) and dollar stores (24,853 stores).

Altoona, Pa. — Sheetz Convenience Restaurants has opened two new locations in North Carolina. One is a 6,400-sq.-ft. store in Goldsboro, featuring a drive-through window, inside seating and a large shopping area. It will be the 59th Sheetz in the state.

The second store will open in Elkin, bringing the total number of North Carolina stores to 60.

Altoona, Pa. — David Woodley, VP of sales and marketing for convenience store chain Sheetz, has moved into the executive VP spot vacated by Louie Sheetz.

Tucson, Ariz. — Sidecar, a craft beer and cocktail bar, plans to open a 963-sq.-ft. upscale lounge at Broadway Village in Tucson. Slated to open in March of 2014, the bar will seat 40 people inside and 12 to 15 people on a patio.

Commercial Retail Advisors represented the landlord, CRI Broadway Village Partners in the transaction. Sidecar handled the lease negotiations itself.

St. Petersburg, Fla. — The Sembler Company is redeveloping the Publix Shopping Center at 3700 4th Street North in St. Petersburg, Fla., on behalf of Publix Super Markets.

Publix will close the store on Dec. 28 to begin the redevelopment of the 50,600-sq.-ft. grocery store and associated liquor store. Improvements will include the construction of new buildings, new landscaping and parking areas. Publix expects to re-open in its new buildings in late 2014.

Westlake, Ohio -- TravelCenters of America said it has completed its acquisition of 31 convenience stores/gas stations in Kentucky and Tennessee for $67.9 million. The deal was first announced on Nov. 14.

Laval, Quebec City -- Canadian convenience store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. announced t it has signed, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Circle K Stores Inc., an agreement with Albuquerque Convenience and Retail to acquire 23 stores in New Mexico. Albuquerque Convenience and Retail is subsidiary of Phillips 66 Company.

New York -- Specialty beverage retailer BevMo! Named Douglas J. Ratto as executive VP, chief merchant. Ratto will lead the buying, planning, allocations and distribution teams at BevMo!

Ratto comes to BevMo! with more than 25 years of retail and marketing management experience. Since 2010, Doug served at Safeway as senior VP, GM of alcohol/tobacco, home care/general merchandise & family care.