How Many QuikTrip Locations Are There in the US? - 33rd Square (2024)

Hey there! As a fellow convenience store enthusiast, I‘m excited to provide you with a deep dive into QuikTrip and their locations across the United States. Grab your favorite QT snack and let‘s get started!

A Brief History of QuikTrip

QuikTrip, commonly known as QT, first opened its doors in 1958 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was founded by two friends, Burt Holmes and Chester Cadieux, who saw an opportunity to create a new kind of convenience store.

At the time, most convenience stores had a narrow focus on snacks, cigarettes and newspapers. Burt and Chester envisioned something better – a one-stop shop with a wider selection of fresh foods, quality gasoline and excellent customer service.

Over 60 years later, it‘s clear Burt and Chester were onto something! Today, QuikTrip has grown to become one of the most popular convenience chains in the country.

Here are some key stats on QuikTrip‘s growth:

• First store opened in 1958 in Tulsa, Oklahoma
• By 1960, there were 5 QuikTrip stores
• By 1970, there were 16 stores
• By 1980, there were 50 stores
• By 1990, there were 100+ stores
• Now there are over 850 stores across 16 states!

QuikTrip remains a privately held company run by the founding Cadieux family. While other chains have sold out or gone public, QT has maintained its focus on quality and customer service rather than quick profits.

This laser-focus on exceeding customer expectations is a big reason why QT has such a loyal following today.

Total Number of QuikTrip Locations

As of October 2022, there are 853 QuikTrip convenience stores across 16 states in the U.S.

To give you a sense of scale, that makes QuikTrip the 9th largest convenience store chain by total locations.

Here‘s a breakdown of the major convenience store chains by total U.S. store count:

As you can see, while QT has fewer locations than the top dogs like 7-Eleven and Circle K, 850+ stores is still very impressive!

And QT is growing fast – they typically open around 10-15 new locations each year. With each new QuikTrip costing $8-10 million to build, that‘s some serious investment!

Okay, let‘s now dive into the state-by-state breakdown of QuikTrip‘s empire.

QuikTrip Locations by State

QuikTrip has stores in 16 states concentrated in the Midwest, South, and Southeast.

Here is the full breakdown:

• Texas – 514
• Oklahoma – 155
• Georgia – 120
• Arizona – 109
• Kansas – 91
• Iowa – 50
• Missouri – 45
• South Carolina – 44
• North Carolina – 43
• Nebraska – 41
• Tennessee – 40
• Illinois – 38
• Indiana – 24
• Arkansas – 15
• Alabama – 2
• Kentucky – 2

Texas is the clear leader with over 500 QuikTrip stores – accounting for around 60% of total locations!

QuikTrip‘s home state of Oklahoma is next with 155 stores. Neighboring states like Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas each have dozens of QuikTrips as well.

In the Southeast, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee lead the way in terms of store count.

Out west, Arizona has a very strong QuikTrip presence with 109 stores and growing.

So in summary, QuikTrip‘s strongest territory by far is Texas and states close to their Oklahoma headquarters. But they are rapidly expanding to other regions.

Why QuikTrip Dominates These States

There are several reasons why QuikTrip hits it out of the park in states like Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and Arizona:

Loyal Customer Base

• QuikTrip has cultivated an extremely loyal customer base. QT fans are passionate about the food, drinks, service and cleanliness.

• Once people shop at QuikTrip, they tend to stick with it and become lifelong loyalists.

Cult-Like Following

• QuikTrip‘s loyal customers have created a cult-like buzz and following around the brand, especially on social media. This gives them free marketing!

Smart Expansion Strategy

• QuikTrip enters new markets slowly and expands steadily once established. This gradual growth leads to market dominance over time.

Quality and Consistency

• Each QuikTrip location maintains exceptionally high standards when it comes to food, facilities and customer service.

• This consistency builds trust and keeps customers coming back.

Local Connections

• In the regions where QT operates, they build strong local connections through charity work, events, and community outreach.

• This helps embed QuikTrip as a beloved local brand.

Thanks to advantages like these, QuikTrip has managed to utterly dominate convenience retail in their core markets.

QuikTrip‘s Ongoing Expansion

Even with over 850 stores already, QuikTrip is still in aggressive growth mode:

• QuikTrip aims to open around 10-15 new stores per year

• Constructing a new QuikTrip location costs approximately $8-10 million

• In recent years, QuikTrip has expanded into Kentucky, Virginia, Washington DC, Louisiana, Alabama, Indiana and other new states

• The company is actively scouting locations for further expansion, especially out East

Here‘s a map showing potential future expansion zones for QuikTrip:

As you can see, QT likely has its sights set on moves into Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, New York and other Eastern states in the coming years.

So while QuikTrip already has an impressive footprint, they still have plenty of room to continue their convenience domination!

How QuikTrip Compares to the Competition

Let‘s see how QuikTrip stacks up against key convenience store competitors:

7-Eleven

• Over 9,000 US locations vs QT‘s 850+
• More focused on small format stores in dense urban areas
• Open 24/7 whereas QuikTrips close overnight
• Food program less developed compared to QuikTrip‘s fresh Commissaries

Wawa

• Around 900 US stores, primarily East Coast focused
• Similar fresh food focus with hoagies, coffee, custom sandwiches
• Does not offer fuel at most locations unlike QuikTrip
• More urban and suburban store formats

Casey‘s General Store

• Over 2,400 stores primarily in Midwest
• Began as more of a rural general store but now expanding to urban areas
• Owned many of their stores vs QT‘s company owned model
• Known for pizza but working to expand food selection

Circle K

• Over 4,000 US stores makes it 2nd largest convenience chain
• Originally from Arizona like QuikTrip but now more global
• Stores tend to be smaller format, more urban focused
• Does not emphasize fresh foods like QT

As you can see, while QT competes with these chains in certain regions, its strategy around customer service, quality gasoline and fresh food makes it stand out from the competition.

No one quite matches the "cult of QuikTrip" fan frenzy!

QuikTrip Ownership and Expansion Model

Here are some key facts about QuikTrip‘s ownership, management and expansion strategy:

• QuikTrip is owned and operated by the private QuikTrip Corporation

• The founding Cadieux family still owns and runs the company 60+ years later

• They‘ve kept it private to maintain tight control over operations

• All new stores are company owned and built rather than franchised

• Full-time employees rather than outside contractors staff each location

This private, company owned approach is rare in convenience retail but it allows QuikTrip to closely oversee each new store.

They don‘t have to worry about policing different franchisees – QT corporate controls the entire process.

While QuikTrip eschews franchising, that doesn‘t limit their growth. They still generate over $11 billion in revenue annually and continue expanding at a healthy clip.

Why Customers Love QuikTrip

There are many reasons QuikTrip enjoys an almost cult-like following among loyal customers:

Fresh Food

• QuikTrip stores bake fresh donuts, pizza, sandwiches, salads and more daily on-site

• The fresh food quality is closer to a restaurant than a typical gas station

Quality Gasoline

• QuikTrip‘s gasoline is top-tier fuel that keeps engines humming

• QT diesel is one of the most popular fuel stops among truckers due to its performance and consistency

Affordable Prices

• Despite amazing food and fuel, QT keeps prices low on everyday essentials

• Specials like 2-for-1 pizza slices and buy one, get one free drink deals keep QT on budget-conscious shopping lists

Modern Store Design

• Open floor plans, state-of-the-art kitchens, and the latest tech make QT stores shine

• Lots of space to move around and get what you need quickly

Outstanding Customer Service

• QuikTrip heavily invests in customer service training for all employees

• Staff goes the extra mile to keep customers happy

Clean Facilities

• QuikTrip stores are meticulously maintained both inside and out

• Bathrooms you aren‘t afraid to use!

Reliability

• No matter where you stop, QT offers the same excellent experience

QuikTrip simply ticks all the boxes when it comes to food, fuel, convenience and service. That winning formula turns first-time visitors into lifelong devotees.

The Future of QuikTrip

QuikTrip has come a long way from its humble beginnings with just 5 stores in 1960. Today, with over 850 locations across 16 states, the chain remains stronger than ever.

As QuikTrip continues growing in the coming decades, here are some possible things we may see:

• Steady expansion East with new stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Florida

• More company-owned Commissary kitchens to supply fresh food systemwide

• Enhanced foodservice like custom-made deli sandwiches, artisan pizza, burritos

• Alternative fuel options like EV charging stations

• Larger store formats with expanded offerings and amenities

• Ongoing innovation and convenience focused on the customer experience

With its loyal following and focus on quality, QuikTrip seems poised to only increase its convenience store dominance in the years ahead.

While giants like 7-Eleven may have more total stores, the passion surrounding QuikTrip is unmatched. Their reputation for customer service turns convenience into an experience.

The Bottom Line

With over 850 exceptional locations across 16 states and growing, QuikTrip has become far more than just another gas station chain.

By combining amazing food, ultra-clean facilities, top-notch customer service and community care, they‘ve built one of the most beloved retail brands in America.

QuikTrip sets the gold standard for convenience stores. No matter where your travels take you, stopping at QT feels like coming home.

Thanks for learning more about QuikTrip with me! Whether it‘s your first time at QT or your thousandth, I hope this guide helps you appreciate the quality and care that goes into every QuikTrip location across the country.

Now if you‘ll excuse me, I‘m suddenly craving one of their custom-made sandwiches. See you at QuikTrip!

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