Jiffy Trip opens first Arkansas convenience store
- Jiffy Trip has opened its first store outside of Oklahoma.
- The c-store chain has about two dozen stores, and its latest is in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
- The chain has plans to open up several more stores in Arkansas as it looks to meet more customers.
Jiffy Trip has opened its first store outside of Oklahoma, a store off U.S. Highway 412 in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
The c-store officially opened to customers in late February. According to a report from the Siloam Springs Herald-Leader, Jiffy Trip Chief Operating Officer Alex Williams says the chain selected Northwest Arkansas for its first non-Oklahoma store for a few reasons.
First, Williams said the chain has been looking to diversify its portfolio outside of Oklahoma — an Arkansas location has been in the works for about two years. Part of the reason was the physical location of the new store — it sits on U.S. Highway 412, which connects Tulsa, Oklahoma, to several other Arkansas cities — Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville and Rogers, according to the report.
Williams also told the outlet that the c-store leadership had liked the community vibe in Siloam Springs, and they were also intrigued to build in the state because fewer regulations on the industry exist there. In addition to the just-opened location, Jiffy Trip has further expansion plans in Arkansas. It’s opening another store in Siloam Springs, and it’ll open stores in Fort Smith and Rogers, Arkansas, according to the report.
Jiffy Trip first opened to customers more than five decades ago in 1972. It’s a family business: The company is helmed by President Kyle Williams, who is the son of co-founder K.V. Williams. Alex Williams — Kyle Williams’ son — became chief operating officer in 2017. The c-store has more than two dozen locations, with all but the latest in Oklahoma.
Williams told the Herald-Leader that Jiffy Trip stores offer customers choices — there are more than 1,000 drink choices at its convenience stores, for example. The new Jiffy Trip store also has the c-store’s restaurant concept, JT’s Restaurant. The restaurant has a focus on comfort food items, including chicken fried steak, big country breakfast, catfish, extra large pizza slices and house-made salads. The restaurant offers other items, including burgers, and it has an omelet station, according to Jiffy Trip.
As Retail Leader Pro recently noted, amid a wave of consolidation in the space, c-stores have focused on modernizing to lure consumers, which often focuses on improving food and beverage options.
“In the new age of convenience, many retailers and brands are leaning into creating an experience for consumers,” said Elizabeth Lafontaine, chief analyst for Retail Leader Pro. “Retailers may take a different approach, but investing in prepared foods, full-service options and branding are all ways that c-stores have engaged consumers and built followings.”