Casey’s announced on Friday (12/17) that it had finalized the purchase of 40 stores (not truck stops) in Tennessee and Kentucky from Pilot Corporation, and on Monday (12/20) a Casey’s representative was at the Knox County Beer Board, switching the permits to sell beer from Pilot Corporation to CGS Stores LLC.
Casey’s shortened its logo from Casey’s General Stores in 2020. It operates a chain of convenience stores in the Midwest and South. Stock in the public corporation trades on the NASDAQ exchange where it was priced at $191.70 per share on Monday. The company is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines. It was founded in 1959 by Donald F. Lamberti and is now headed by Darren Rebelez.
Richard Nhong
Richard Nhong, a district manager, represented Casey’s at the Beer Board meeting. Commissioner Carson Dailey asked him to talk about Casey’s. “We’re people-oriented with a focus on our guests and team members,” he said. “And we try to take care of the community as best we can; maybe not to the level that Pilot and Mr. (Jim) Haslam have, but we will be involved.”
Dan Fleming, vice president of operations for Pilot Corporation, said he negotiated the sale on behalf of Pilot. Commissioner Terry Hill asked if Casey’s now owned both the land and the stores. Fleming said, “Some are (owned) and some aren’t”
Four Knox County stores that transferred a beer permit on Monday were:
- Casey’s #4039 – 6900 Maynardville Pike
- Casey’s #4096 – 2801 E. Governor John Sevier Hwy.
- Casey’s #4122 – 6804 Clinton Hwy.
- Goodstop #4127 – 8541 Middlebrook Pike
Fleming said Casey’s bought the store and land on John Sevier and Clinton highways, and continues to lease the land on Middlebrook Pike.
Nhong said the Middlebrook Pike store will operate as a Goodstop because McDonald’s is located in the same center and Casey’s food products including its signature pizza will not be sold there.
Halls gets new restaurant
Ryan Williams was approved to serve beer on-premises at Big Orange Philly’s, 6625 Maynardville Pike. It was previously a Time Out Deli. “We’re just trying to do something good for the Halls community,” Williams told the board.
Sandra Clark is editor/CEO of Knox TN Today.