QuikTrip planning first OKC location (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=746-QuikTrip-planning-first-OKC-location)

Tulsa-based QuikTrip is planning its first Oklahoma City location at E. Hefner Road and I-35.


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The convenience store chain announced earlier this year plans to create a network of remote travel centers for areas of the country with high traffic.

While a standard QuikTrip range in size from 4,100 to 5,700 square feet, travel centers average approximately 8,000 square feet.

Travel centers also feature expanded kitchens as well as more gas pumps and diesel bays for trucks, which are generally located on the backside of the stores.

The move comes after the Brown family recently sold all the Central Oklahoma 7-Elevens to corporate headquarters. QuikTrip was rumored to have had a gentleman's agreement to not enter the OKC market as long as the Browns had ownership.

It also appears that QuikTrip may be planning another travel center for the Moore/Norman area.

QuikTrip currently operates over 900 locations nationwide.


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Bout time. Glad to see them coming to the OKC area. Just North of Purcell would be a good location for their Norman location.

Well that didn't take too long.

Just a few years ago, the OKC market was dominated by ultra-crappy 7-11's and Circle K's.

Now, OnCue is almost everywhere, there are a bunch of highly-improved 7-11's, Casey's is everywhere, and now comes QT.

What a staggering difference in a short period of time.

Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion but it just boggles my mind how people can get so worked up about a gas station. Plus it seems OKC is so saturated. Maybe not on the highway though. Oh well.

Frequently stop at the QT in Gainesville to/from the Dallas area. Nice and clean, always bustling, seems to be a little more compact than does OnCue but still very nice.

Woah, never thought I'd see the day.

Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion but it just boggles my mind how people can get so worked up about a gas station. Plus it seems OKC is so saturated. Maybe not on the highway though. Oh well.

The average person uses a place like OnCue or QT more than any other business.

Wow. Blood in the water and the crocs show up.

I've always liked Quik Trip.

What of the fabled gentlemen's agreement between the QT and OnCue owners not to encroach on the other's territories?

Its crazy it took them this long to enter the Oklahoma City market, with them being headquartered right up the road. They have been around a while, and they are all over DFW, Wichita, Kansas City....just crazy OKC didn't have one.

Its crazy it took them this long to enter the Oklahoma City market, with them being headquartered right up the road. They have been around a while, and they are all over DFW, Wichita, Kansas City....just crazy OKC didn't have one.

It's because QT had a handshake deal not to enter the OKC market as long as the Brown family owned 7-11.

The Browns recently sold to corporate, so that's what changed.

What of the fabled gentlemen's agreement between the QT and OnCue owners not to encroach on the other's territories?

Pretty sure that was between QT and the Browns that owned 7-Eleven, not OnCue.

What of the fabled gentlemen's agreement between the QT and OnCue owners not to encroach on the other's territories?

It was a fable.... the agreement was between QT and the Brown family who owned the 7-11's in OKC.

Well I know OnCue is currently focused on Houston but I'm wondering how soon they'll look at taking on Tulsa.

There are already a hand full of old gas stations they have taken over out in rural areas and labeled as OnCue Express but these are all just remodels similar to what Casey's did with Circle K. Not full blown OnCue's.

Well I know OnCue is currently focused on Houston but I'm wondering how soon they'll look at taking on Tulsa.

There are already a hand full of old gas stations they have taken over out in rural areas and labeled as OnCue Express but these are all just remodels similar to what Casey's did with Circle K. Not full blown OnCue's.

I don't know if there is a square mile in Tulsa that doesn't have a QT on it. Kum & Go has tried to take on QT, but doesn't seem to be doing too well. Tulsan's just have a weird obsession and dedication to QT that is unlike anything i've ever seen, so I don't know if OnCue could really be successful up here.

Well I know OnCue is currently focused on Houston but I'm wondering how soon they'll look at taking on Tulsa.

There are already a hand full of old gas stations they have taken over out in rural areas and labeled as OnCue Express but these are all just remodels similar to what Casey's did with Circle K. Not full blown OnCue's.

Right, and that's exactly what you find at the Wellston Exit on I-44. Former something else, now branded as an OnCue, the building is weird.

As a native Tulsan and big admirer of QT, two things:

1. I guess Aaron Dodson couldn't find financing for redeveloping the area around his building so he finally sold it. I remember talking to him about it six years ago and nothing was ever done.

2. I actually like OnCue better. Unless QT starts adding drive thrus to their OKC locations, I think they are pretty much the same. The oncues I have been into are usually clean and stocked. Same at QT in Tulsa, but without the DT. I know it will do well because there is already a base for it, but oncue might have oversaturated the market already unless QT can find a lot of holes in the market. As stated, if they are just off of highways, that could be their niche.

QT getting one down in Norman on 35 and beating the "potential" Buccees to that area is probably a good idea. Lots of traffic there and the OnCues aren't right on 35.

Also bets on when this story gets stolen on The Oklahoman?

Lots of traffic there and the OnCues aren't right on 35.
The new one on Lindsey St. is all but.

I don't know if there is a square mile in Tulsa that doesn't have a QT on it. Kum & Go has tried to take on QT, but doesn't seem to be doing too well. Tulsan's just have a weird obsession and dedication to QT that is unlike anything i've ever seen, so I don't know if OnCue could really be successful up here.

Very true on QT's saturation of the Tulsa market. I wish they could come up with more of a walkable urban format store though - a few of their recent midtown Tulsa stores have been oversized for their surroundings. I get it but don't like their "one size fits all" approach to new stores.

Now we will have a variety of convenient stores in our city. QT we've been waiting for you to enter the OKC market.

But will it have a drive thru?

Seriously though, this has been a long time coming. I'm excited to see how Oncue responds.

I grew up in Wichita, and we had QT (and Kwik Shop, owned by Dillon's). For 30 or so years after moving back to my family's OKC-area roots, I visited Wichita several times a year to see my mom, and often went to QT while I was there, and watched as they grew and modernized. It's perfectly nice. I'm saying all of this to say that I have no axe to grind against QT; glad we will now have the choice. But seriously, OnCue is better.

I just this weekend took a trip to the Kansas City area and visited QT on multiple occasions, including in Wichita, KC and several of times to the one near my hotel in Kearney, MO. I just don't see it. I mean, It's nice and all, but I think the QT hype is really overblown. I think OKC people came to desire QT mostly based upon market being dominated for years by trash C-stores, combined with the regular razzing we got from our Tulsa neighbors. I'll probably be sticking with OnCue when given a choice between the two.

Tulsan's just have a weird obsession and dedication to QT that is unlike anything i've ever seen, so I don't know if OnCue could really be successful up here.

What a bunch of wackos for supporting a well run company headquartered in their community. Total insanity.

I get that some people like OnCue better, but to be fair, they really ripped their model off of QT. But maybe they're doing it better now in some people's opinion.

What a bunch of wackos for supporting a well run company headquartered in their community. Total insanity.

I get that some people like OnCue better, but to be fair, they really ripped their model off of QT. But maybe they're doing it better now in some people's opinion.

There is nothing new under the sun. Bashing a company for taking someone's model and possibly improving on it isn't really fair.

What a bunch of wackos for supporting a well run company headquartered in their community. Total insanity.

I get that some people like OnCue better, but to be fair, they really ripped their model off of QT. But maybe they're doing it better now in some people's opinion.

If I remember correctly (and please correct me if I am wrong) the founder of oncue was a higher up at QT before moving on to start his own thing. It could be a rumor, but seeing the similarities, it wouldn't surprise me.

If I remember correctly (and please correct me if I am wrong) the founder of oncue was a higher up at QT before moving on to start his own thing. It could be a rumor, but seeing the similarities, it wouldn't surprise me.

Maybe things first got started back decades ago in Stillwater where there used to be a QT. The founder died, and the founder's son took over the business not yet named Oncue. In 2004, Jim Griffith, Chief Executive Officer of Griffith Petroleum, the founder's son, formed a joint venture with Shaw’s Gulf, Inc. to create OnCue Express. Griffith is now a little past retirement age. I wonder if he is still at it. Oncue is headquartered in a modest 1 story building in downtown Stillwater. Perhaps it was about the founder's son as the story goes. Or maybe QT was never a part of the story.

Here are the plans for the Hefner/I-35 location. You can see the truck fueling stations are behind (west) of the building which faces east towards I-35.

10 fueling islands for cars, 7 for trucks.

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I love how all the other media outlets took Pete’s findings and announced this but all they did was call corporate and took the bait of “we are considering OKC but nothing has been decided”

Yet Pete has location and building plans. Good job on being first and most detailed on these things as always!

Here are the plans for the Hefner/I-35 location. You can see the truck fueling stations are behind (west) of the building which faces east towards I-35.

10 fueling islands for cars, 7 for trucks.


Also Based on these plans. They also must be acquiring the Dobson home building (white roof building) in your location post and tearing that down as you can see the on and off Ramps to 35 which line up with that existing building

If I remember correctly (and please correct me if I am wrong) the founder of oncue was a higher up at QT before moving on to start his own thing. It could be a rumor, but seeing the similarities, it wouldn't surprise me.

ONcue started in 1966 .... QT in 1958 .... so if there is a connection .. it would be very very old ..

I grew up in Wichita, and we had QT (and Kwik Shop, owned by Dillon's). For 30 or so years after moving back to my family's OKC-area roots, I visited Wichita several times a year to see my mom, and often went to QT while I was there, and watched as they grew and modernized. It's perfectly nice. I'm saying all of this to say that I have no axe to grind against QT; glad we will now have the choice. But seriously, OnCue is better.

I just this weekend took a trip to the Kansas City area and visited QT on multiple occasions, including in Wichita, KC and several of times to the one near my hotel in Kearney, MO. I just don't see it. I mean, It's nice and all, but I think the QT hype is really overblown. I think OKC people came to desire QT mostly based upon market being dominated for years by trash C-stores, combined with the regular razzing we got from our Tulsa neighbors. I'll probably be sticking with OnCue when given a choice between the two.

i get that some people get daily coffee/ donut whatever ... but i'm not sure i could tell you the last time i have been inside a gas station (when not on a road trip)

I'm guessing the little c-store just south won't be long for this world. Not sure how they have stayed open this long anyway

Keep in mind that the story states (and their corporate office has stated) that QT is currently expanding their 'travel stops' servicing interstate travel, not an aggressive expansion across the city.

I love how all the other media outlets took Pete’s findings and announced this but all they did was call corporate and took the bait of “we are considering OKC but nothing has been decided”

Yet Pete has location and building plans. Good job on being first and most detailed on these things as always!

And they only ran articles after we posted our story. No credit, contrary to common journalist ethics. Par for the course.

I rarely venture into modern convenience stores but I grew up in Ponca and we always had QuickTrips and I have a lot of fond memories of those stores. I always feel a bit of nostalgia when we go to Tulsa and I see them everywhere. I haven't been in a QT since Ponca City, and those have been closed for years (decades?).

Monster numbers on Facebook:

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I love reading the comments. People complaining about gas stations.

And they only ran articles after we posted our story. No credit, contrary to common journalist ethics. Par for the course.KFOR.com mentions OKCTalk twice? What do you mean no credit?

What a bunch of wackos for supporting a well run company headquartered in their community. Total insanity.

I get that some people like OnCue better, but to be fair, they really ripped their model off of QT. But maybe they're doing it better now in some people's opinion.
Oh come on man, EAD. OKC doesn't have a similar obsession with sonic or Loves or any place like tulsa does with QT. I've lived in both places. It's odd.

KFOR.com mentions OKCTalk twice? What do you mean no credit?

I assume he's talking about a particular other news outlet that has a history of this, not KFOR.

KFOR.com mentions OKCTalk twice? What do you mean no credit?

They asked and received my permission.

The others did not.

I think OnCue has a leg up on QT for the actual store because of the awning and also the drive thru's. QT's have much better customer service though. Their employees always seem friendly and will stop what they're doing to ring a customer up. OnCue employees seem much grumpier, carry on with their conversations with each other even if they're checking out a customer, don't stop what they're doing even if there's a line at checkout, etc.

I would have been a lot more excite about this a decade ago. As Pete mentioned, the landscape has changed a lot in the years since we just had the crappy 7-11s. Back then, going into a place like an On-Cue or QT was the exception, not the rule. At this point, I've got 6 On-Cue's within just a few miles of my house, with at least one in every available direction. There's nothing specifically "extra" about QT verses On-Cue to me at this point, so it will come down to convenience and location.

That being said, if the competition keeps On-Cue, 7/11, and such on their game, then all the better for all of us.

It's an odd relationship between Tulsan's and their QuikTrip. I personally don't really get worked up over convenience stores, but I like them small, dingy and cheap. I think OnCue and QT are generally the same. QT's spicy chicken taquitos and buffalo chicken bites with cheese were an entire food group for me when I lived in Tulsa and when in town I always stop to get some. OnCue appears to have similar offerings, but none of them match those two for me. Otherwise, they are all the same.

In my opinion, some of the Tulsa QT "cult" comes from knowing they take care of theirs. Most people in Tulsa know someone who works for, or has worked for QT. In my experience, some of the nicest and most deserving people go to work for QT (some straight out of high school), bust their tails, and are rewarded for it. I've never heard someone complain about QT as an employer (while I'm sure they exists). So to a certain degree, QT represents a civic institution more than simply a convenience store. This is my personal opinion / experience, but I am often found to be overly empathetic and could be way off.

I'm surprised I haven't seen the other half of the Quick Trip and Brown family "gentlemen's agreement"; Seven Eleven stayed out of NE Oklahoma.

I'm surprised I haven't seen the other half of the Quick Trip and Brown family "gentlemen's agreement"; Seven Eleven stayed out of NE Oklahoma.

And QT stayed out of OKC until the Browns sold their 7-Elevens, so the agreement (assuming it actually existed) was pretty much null and void after that happened. I doubt that Mr. Brown and Mr. Trip (whoever owned/owns them) said "and the agreement still stands even if one of us sells our chains" while shaking hands many decades ago. :)

And QT stayed out of OKC until the Browns sold their 7-Elevens, so the agreement (assuming it actually existed) was pretty much null and void after that happened. I doubt that Mr. Brown and Mr. Trip (whoever owned/owns them) said "and the agreement still stands even if one of us sells our chains" while shaking hands many decades ago. :)

i just threw it out there as a cute side note and the answer to the unasked trivia question: why does the largest C-store chain in the world not have any presence in NE Oklahoma?

They asked and received my permission.

The others did not.

Do you know if QT has a timeline for opening the Hefner location?

Do you know if QT has a timeline for opening the Hefner location?

No, but they have already filed a re-zoning application and have drawn plans.

My best bet would be mid-2022.

What a bunch of wackos for supporting a well run company headquartered in their community. Total insanity.

I get that some people like OnCue better, but to be fair, they really ripped their model off of QT. But maybe they're doing it better now in some people's opinion.

and it could be argued that QT ripped off 7-11 or at least developed their business model off the OKC owner; hence the gentleman's agreement.

That's competition - you get ideas often times from your peers and try to beat them at it.

I'm actually glad that QT will bring the large scale application to OKC - to better compete with existing competitors.

Hmmm, a travel center in Norman also. It would appear the rumor of a Bucees location in Norman is not a factor.

The average person uses a place like OnCue or QT more than any other business.

Yep. I go to Kum and Go every single day that I work. I have a long drive so I am either stopping to fill up before my drive, or grabbing a soda for the road. Or both. I am very picky about convenience stores. I avoid the mid 90's gas station with a clerk behind bulletproof glass who is grumpy. Any clean, friendly spacious store gets my business 10 times out of 10.

^

One guy took time out of his day to make this brilliant comment:


Ummmm
Tulsa based…OKC Location ? lmfao
How does that work exactly

^

One guy took time out of his day to make this brilliant comment:

You're going to love the comment I dropped on the DashMart post on FB complaining about the parking... ;)

You're going to love the comment I dropped on the DashMart post on FB complaining about the parking... ;)

well played sir. well played... i just saw that comment and then came on over here. hahaha

Heard a rumor that QT is going to take over the Circle K at the NW corner of 63 rd and Broadway Extension, and perhaps other Circle Ks that Casey’s didn’t take. Has anyone else heard this?

Heard a rumor that QT is going to take over the Circle K at the NW corner of 63 rd and Broadway Extension, and perhaps other Circle Ks that Casey’s didn’t take. Has anyone else heard this?

I don't think that is going to happen.

There have been sign permits for the old Circle K on the NE corner of NW 63rd & Broadway. The name will be "Good Stop".

Also, QT told the Oklahoman they would only do travel centers on interstates in the OKC area. I've seen the QT immediate expansion plans and they only show the Hefner/I-35 location as well as one somewhere in Norman along I-35.