Between the Sheetz

Sheetz Inc. (Altoona, Pa.) has been honored for Best New Store Concept by CSP (Convenience Store/Petroleum), a national convenience industry publication.

A panel of industry experts selected this store, located in Sheetz’s Altoona hometown, for its unprecedented approach to convenience retailing — upgraded fare, special-blended coffee and espresso bar and distinctive design elements.

The Sheetz store was also recently named store of the year in its category in the annual ISP/VM+SD Store Design Competition. Chute-Gerdeman (Columbus, Ohio) helped develop the concept.

The quick-service eatery, which will be a model for future Sheetz locations, features brick oven pizza, hand- carved roast beef and turkey sandwiches, tossed salads, toasted subs, and grilled paninis as well as an espresso bar with barista-made lattes, cappuccinos and fruit smoothies — all ordered using unique touch-screen order point terminals. The restaurant also introduces 100 percent pay-at-the-pump gas service, over 100 indoor and outdoor seats and what is says is the world’s only touch-screen drive-thru. Sheetz said it plans to bring the model next to Raleigh, N.C., in early March.