Yesway targets Oklahoma for expansion

Yesway is continuing its rapid expansion of its Allsup's banner.

The convenience store chain, which operates stores under the Yesway and Allsup's banner, was recently named one of Chain Store Age’s 2024 Breakout Retailers.  It plans to grow its footprint in Oklahoma and bring its total store count in the state to 15 by the end of the year.

In addition to its five existing Allsup's stores in Oklahoma, Yesway recently celebrated the grand openings of its newest stores in Broken Bow Thackerville, with two more locations slated to open in the first quarter of the year in Davis and Tushka. The Thackerville Allsup's location represents the company's first "true" interstate store, with the majority of the anticipated traffic coming off of Interstate 35, given its proximity to the WinStar World Casino, the company said.

The retailer is slated to soon begin construction on three additional Allsup's locations, in Elk City, Blanchard and Kiowa, bringing the total number of Allsup’s stores in the Sooner State to 12 by summer.

"In Oklahoma, we realized that many of its towns were underserved with a good convenience store operator that is focused on customer service and providing quality products with a strong value proposition,” said Yesway chief real estate officer Thomas Brown. “Customers have long requested Allsup's in those communities, and we are excited to bring our new stores there." 

In addition to growing in Oklahoma, Yesway has also opened a new Allsup's Express concept store in Denton, Texas. Located next to the University of North Texas, the Express store is less than half the size of a traditional Allsup’s location at 3,000-sq.-ft., and features a more curated assortment of merchandise catering to the college crowd, while still offering the chain’s famous hot food and to-go meals.

Established in 2015, Yesway operates 435 stores in Texas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Nebraska under the Yesway and Allsup’s banners.