Another regional chain with a cult-like following is Casey’s from Iowa. I’m from Texas and also find Bucee’s stressful to visit. There are just too many cars and trucks and people!
I think Florida becomes a destination for so many regional brands because the vast majority of Florida’s population is from somewhere else.
Ah yes, Casey's! I haven't been myself, but I know Midwesterners who are obsessed!
That's an interesting idea too about Florida being a place people (and businesses) move to. It becomes kind of a melting pot of all of our regional chains. Thanks for reading and commenting, Marianna!
A decade ago I would have voted for Sheetz, but then I discovered Maryland and Delaware's own Royal Farms, which to me is a chicken restaurant (a la my hometown favorite Bojangles), with a nice convenience store and cheap gas, but only the gas is the most dependable, based on the neighborhood. As always, a lot of interesting quality of life nuggets!
Thanks Kristen! That's interesting framing- a chicken restaurant that happens to sell gas and convenience items. Maybe I've been looking at these local chains all wrong and the gas/chips/soda are secondary to the speciality item (whether Wawa hoagies, Buc-ee's brisket, or Royal Farms fried chicken). I've bought gas at Royal Farms in Delaware before, but never made it inside the store!
I do think it's the food element. My love for Sheetz was also related to it's (one-time) 25 cent wings deals on Tuesdays, along with cheap gas ( transit was a joke, definitely not in the position I'm in now to go 50/50 with the car).
And sadly, our local "RoFo" around the corner is basically only good for it's chicken and gas, they have really reduced all the other convenience items and we don't have a car wash or working vacuums and air pumps..
I love it! A gas station that barely functions as a gas station (no vacuums, air pumps, or car wash) but they've got good chicken! I'll have to stop in the next time I'm down that way.
Another regional chain with a cult-like following is Casey’s from Iowa. I’m from Texas and also find Bucee’s stressful to visit. There are just too many cars and trucks and people!
I think Florida becomes a destination for so many regional brands because the vast majority of Florida’s population is from somewhere else.
Ah yes, Casey's! I haven't been myself, but I know Midwesterners who are obsessed!
That's an interesting idea too about Florida being a place people (and businesses) move to. It becomes kind of a melting pot of all of our regional chains. Thanks for reading and commenting, Marianna!
A decade ago I would have voted for Sheetz, but then I discovered Maryland and Delaware's own Royal Farms, which to me is a chicken restaurant (a la my hometown favorite Bojangles), with a nice convenience store and cheap gas, but only the gas is the most dependable, based on the neighborhood. As always, a lot of interesting quality of life nuggets!
Thanks Kristen! That's interesting framing- a chicken restaurant that happens to sell gas and convenience items. Maybe I've been looking at these local chains all wrong and the gas/chips/soda are secondary to the speciality item (whether Wawa hoagies, Buc-ee's brisket, or Royal Farms fried chicken). I've bought gas at Royal Farms in Delaware before, but never made it inside the store!
I do think it's the food element. My love for Sheetz was also related to it's (one-time) 25 cent wings deals on Tuesdays, along with cheap gas ( transit was a joke, definitely not in the position I'm in now to go 50/50 with the car).
And sadly, our local "RoFo" around the corner is basically only good for it's chicken and gas, they have really reduced all the other convenience items and we don't have a car wash or working vacuums and air pumps..
I love it! A gas station that barely functions as a gas station (no vacuums, air pumps, or car wash) but they've got good chicken! I'll have to stop in the next time I'm down that way.