A Convenient Concept

Sheetz (Altoona, Pa.), a family owned and operated convenience store chain, has opened its first Convenience Restaurant in Altoona, Pa. The 10,000-square-foot restaurant combines the amenities of a modern quick-casual restaurant with the efficiency of a convenience store, including digital menu boards, touchscreen order points, Wi-Fi access, DVD rental, five large-screen TVs, self-serve candy dispensers and more.

“The Convenience Restaurant is a revolution in both the food and convenience industries,” said founded Bob Sheetz. “The concept combines a top-quality restaurant featuring a wide variety of great tasting food with a state-of-the-are convenience store.”

The restaurant is more than double the size of an average Sheetz convenience store, which features made-to-order sub, salad, sandwiches and specialty coffees ordered through touchscreen terminals inside the store. The company operates 300 convenience stores in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.

Sheetz said the idea for the Convenience Restaurant was developed after the company polled customers and employees on how to break the traditional convenience and restaurant models.

Menu items included hand-tossed pizzas, paninis, fresh-sliced roast beef, subs, gourmet salad station, homemade gelato and a full-service coffee bar. “There is a unique visual element of food theater in the Convenience Restaurant where customers can see their fresh salads being assembled or their sandwiches being prepared,” said Keith Boston, Sheetz's director of culinary development. “It's food in your face.”

The facility can accommodate 62 diners inside and 46 outdoors, and also offers drive- through service. In addition, the restaurant features “touchless” restrooms and an on-site gas island with 100 percent pay-at-the-pump capability.