I’ve heard some grumblings about the new QuickTrip store on Garland Road, near Gaston (the one we told you about a few months ago) — variations of the sarcastic “like we really need a convenience store”, or “oh, is this what they mean by improving the Garland Road corridor?”
But, as a person who has spent many late nights/early mornings on the road, and one who’s grabbed many a lunch and dinner at the 24-hour Kwik-e-Mart, I’ve always appreciated the clean, well-lit, politely manned convenience store — especially the ones with the remarkable selection of coffees, fountain drinks and snack/grocery items. Low-ish gas prices with plenty of pumps is a sweet perk, too.
Yeah, if it’s got to be a convenience store, at least it’s QT, which always meets the aforementioned criteria.
I dropped in yesterday — the new location’s opening day — and discovered that stepping into a brand new QT is as satisfying as sitting in a new car. Smells clean. The staff is happy. Plump hot dogs and browning burritos are slowly turning on the pristine cooker. The condiments, sugar packets, and chip bags are stacked with Monk-esque precision, and the gas pumps are free of grime. I also expect it will lessen the traffic at the ol’ faithful 7-11 across the street, not to mention drive down gas prices by a few cents.
