Stopped by the Circle K on 15th and Broadway last evening. Noticed signs posted on the door that said, "no coffee, no lottery tickets" Asked the clerk if they missed a delivery. The answer was no. Turns out they are shutting this location down.

Any ideas what may take its spot?

^

15th and Kelly?

Has not been sold recently so I'm not sure what is happening there.

Isn't the one on 15th and Broadway a Circle K too?

apparently strange things are afoot.

apparently strange things are afoot.

Wyld Stallyns!

Store will be closing. Last day of business will be Sunday April 15th. Reason?...not making any money...no doubt due to the OnCue just down the road at 63rd/NW Hiway.

Over the last few months, I've noted the closure or rebranding of at least three Circle-K convenience stores in the greater OKC area, the most recent of which was at the SW 89th and Penn location. Does anyone out there in the business world have any info on what is precipitating the closures? I can't believe their all purely incidental.

Funny you say that, I've noticed the one in Mustang changing while on my way to work. Is now a Conoco.

Funny you say that, I've noticed the one in Mustang changing while on my way to work. Is now a Conoco.
Didn't the one downtown at 11th and Broadway recently change from Circle K to Conoco?

I've seen two in Edmond shut down, and another yesterday in N. OKC. I was wondering the same thing myself.

The one in Norman on Robinson and Berry just shut down a week or two ago.

Just noticed the one on the SW corner of 23rd and Rockwell is boarded up.

Isn't this something that goes in a cycle? This is at least the third mass exodus of Circle K that I can remember (and don't ask for specific years). They seem to always come back. If the Mustang one is the one at Reno and Mustang on the NW corner, it used to be on the SW corner where the CVS is now. It changed back and forth to and from Circle K a couple times, I think it went as Stax for awhile. I don't recall if that one went as EZ-Mart, but some Circle Ks in the area did. I have a vague memory of yet another name, but can't recall it.

Meridian and NW Expressway: https://goo.gl/maps/LhNLhcvf43A2

Didn't the one downtown at 11th and Broadway recently change from Circle K to Conoco?

It’s always been a shell to my recollection.

It’s always been a shell to my recollection.
Not anymore...

The Circle K at 33rd and Kelly is branded as a Shell also....was also closed I noticed this morning.

Station at 15th & Broadway in Edmond is closed.

Two of the Circle K's that had Shell gas have closed in Norman (Robinson and Lindsey Street). Two other Shells in Norman have switched to Valero gas. It might have to do with an agreement between Shell and Cirlce K.

I just did a quick check of 4 locations closest to me, all Circle K's with Shell gas:

36th & Penn - open
39th & May - open
39th & Meridian - open
NW Expressway & Meridian - closed


These are all larger, newer stores (all former All Star Markets) with the exception of the NW Ex site, which was a converted Texaco. Sign on the door just says 'Closed for business' and all the equipment is still inside but the shelves are empty.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/circleknwexmeridian.jpg

I noticed that the local "newspaper" had an article on local circle k's closing. Had less substance than this thread. They were a little slow cribbing from this site this time.

I noticed that the local "newspaper" had an article on local circle k's closing. Had less substance than this thread. They were a little slow cribbing from this site this time.

There is a huge inaccuracy in that 'story' that I will point out later.

There is a huge inaccuracy in that 'story' that I will point out later.

Had lunch with the Circle K owners yesterday. They are not closing.

i stopped in the the 23rd/rockwell one a few weeks ago for a fountain drink - the Budweiser people were there hauling all of the beer out - a few days later it was boarded up

Had lunch with the Circle K owners yesterday. They are not closing.

Shoot I stopped at the one at Mem and Western this morning and it was closed. Oncue right across the street was packed.

SW 89th and Penn is closed

Had lunch with the Circle K owners yesterday. They are not closing.

With the closing of stores, I'd say they're lying as the stores close. Reminds me of Baghdad Bob during Desert Storm telling the people on TV that the US was not coming into town even as the troops were moving in.

Someone posted to The Village Facebook page the Circle K at Britton and May will close June 1. I haven't been up there lately, so I don't know how they got that info, but it seems to be in line with the recent closings of other stores.

Memorial & Western is closed.

I've noticed Circle K's might be the worst manage C-Stores around. There are two by my office on either side of I-40 on Meridian. The store on the south Meridian (next to the Biltmore Hotel) is always, I mean always covered with trash. The Circle K on the north side is not covered with trash, but both are in need of updating.

The station on Britton & Waverly took down all their Shell signage.

I was told by a manager from one of the Circle K stores that some of the stores are closing due to poor sales revenue numbers and that some of them closed due to the leased land the store was on. Manager said when the contract was up and Circle K wanted to re negotiate, the lease/land owner increased the lease payment and Circle K elected to not renew the lease with the increased payment.

I to was wondering what was going on as I noticed several locations all across the metro closed

nm

Closing day came early for the station on Britton and May.

Closing day came early for the station on Britton and May.

Saw that this morning. Hopefully the lot doesn't stay vacant too long.

Closing day came early for the station on Britton and May.

I wonder how much of this was Circle K's across the metro closing, and how much of it was OnCue dropping the hammer on them

I wonder how much of this was Circle K's across the metro closing, and how much of it was OnCue dropping the hammer on them

I wouldn't be at all surprised if OnCue was a big part of it. QuikTrip had that effect in Tulsa when they exploded in growth, and they put out Circle K and Git 'n' Go. Those both used to have a heavy presence in Tulsa all throughout my childhood and teen years.

Circle K also went through a bankruptcy but this time around I think it has much more to do with several of their locations in the OKC area being small and lousy and could no longer compete against OnCue and the the nicer 7/11's.

Casey's will have an impact as well.

Circle K also went through a bankruptcy but this time around I think it has much more to do with several of their locations in the OKC area being small and lousy and could no longer compete against OnCue and the the nicer 7/11's.

Casey's will have an impact as well.

The one on Britton and May was awful. The location was very convenient, though.

I think the only one I've ever been to here (they are very different in California for the most part) is the location at 39th & Meridian.

It's one of their biggest local stores and it was pretty darn bad. Honestly, between Sam's Club and OnCue, I haven't been in another brand of c-store in the OKC area in years, and I don't plan to... Other than stopping at a new 7/11 location when I really have to.


It seems we are in another round of what-do-you-do-with-the-old-gas-stations, just like when tons of them closed in 70's and 80's due to fuel prices. Most of those are still crappy little spots and I fear we are headed that way again.

I think the only one I've ever been to here (they are very different in California for the most part) is the location at 39th & Meridian.

It's one of their biggest local stores and it was pretty darn bad. Honestly, between Sam's Club and OnCue, I haven't been in another brand of c-store in the OKC area in years, and I don't plan to... Other than stopping at a new 7/11 location when I really have to.


It seems we are in another round of what-do-you-do-with-the-old-gas-stations, just like when tons of them closed in 70's and 80's due to fuel prices. Most of those are still crappy little spots and I fear we are headed that way again.

I'm hopeful the city of The Village can prevent that from happening. I'd rather have an empty lot than an abandoned gas station.

May & Britton is an excellent corner but that is a small property and of course the cost to remove the tanks and remediate any soil issues are large.

Like NW Expressway and Meridian, it was formerly a Texaco.

If I remember correctly a good amount of the Circle K's used to be All Star stores and when they wanted to renter the market he kept ownership of the properties as part of the agreement. I could be completely wrong in that though but I am confident that the All Star transports that delivered fuel was apart of the same ownership. I'd be curious if they don't try and renter the market with Circle K's closing.

Yes, they took over several former All Star locations: May & I-44, Penn & 39th, Meridian and 39th, etc.


Okay, so here's the part the Oklahoman completely missed on...

Circle K sold all 24 of the OKC area properties in 2012 as a portfolio to an investment group in California. In turn, Circle K leased all of them for 12 more years (2024) and guaranteed the leases. In real estate terms this is known as a sale/lease-back and there are tons of investors (mainly REITs) that make these purchases then draw an income from high-credit tenants.

So, Circle K doesn't own any of these and are merely a tenant.

The investment co. in California (the property owners) have not returned my calls but it's safe to say that Circle K just decided to no longer operate several of the smaller locations because there was no money in it. They likely still owe rent but perhaps they negotiated a buy-out from the investment company or are just eating the lease payment instead of continuing to operate what were likely unprofitable stores.

Are they ground leases?

Are they ground leases?

No, they are leasing the building and property. They don't own the buildings or other improvements.

Isn't there environmental laws that forces the owner to maintain/inspect the tanks as long as there in the ground?

That would be motivation to remove the tanks. Along with being able to find a buyer for the property.

Isn't there environmental laws that forces the owner to maintain/inspect the tanks as long as there in the ground?

That would be motivation to remove the tanks. Along with being able to find a buyer for the property.

Canopy was coming down today at Memorial and Western.

Canopy was coming down today at Memorial and Western.

Also coming down at 23rd and Rockwell.

Fence went up around the station on 15th&Brdwy in Edmond. Either to demolish it or remove the tanks and/or the canopy.

My understanding is that in the places where they've closed and ended their lease, they are required by their lease agreement to remove the tanks.

They tore down the building at 122nd and May yesterday. Any idea what's going up in its place?

I'm probably late in reporting this since I rarely travel due to COVID-19 but the May and Britton location of Circle K has officially been razed.

Sad, I had good memories of Circle K back in the 80's and 90's

It looks like all Oklahoma Circle-K locations are being sold to Casey's:

https://csnews.com/circle-k-announces-sale-350-plus-stores-north-america

Is this the second or third time Circle K loses Oklahoma representation? Will there be a next time?

Probably an upgrade. Circle K seems to be the dumpster of C-stores, right next to corporate 7/11’s.

Not disagreeing. Just saying, when I was a kid we had circle Ks, then as a younger adult we didn't, then we did again, now we won't again....

This is a very good thing.

Circle K has been dying on the vine and most of their stores are a disgrace.

Casey's are clean and they run a tight ship.


This move will escalate the c-store wars with OnCue and the new 7-11's.