Casey’s plans new southwest Cedar Rapids store

The fourth largest convenience store chain in the country is planning its ninth store in southwest Cedar Rapids.

Casey's General Store of Ankeny has received approval from the city for a 4.300-square-foot store at 4350 16th Ave. SW.

The building, which will have a more urban appearance, will be constructed on land under contract for purchase at the northeast corner of Jacolyn Drive and 16th Avenue SW. Sam James, a financial analyst with Casey's, said construction likely will begin late this year, pending completion of due diligence and approval of the necessary city permits.

'The store will have six fuel islands,” James said. 'We would expect it to open in 2017.”

James said Casey's typically decides closer to a store opening whether it will operate 24 hours and offer services like pizza delivery.

The land is owned by Jay Holdings of Cedar Rapids. The city wants the overall plot of land to be subdivided before construction begins.

Casey's, with 1,911 corporate stores in 14 states, has announced plans to build about 50 stores and remodel 100 locations by the end of fiscal year 2016. The company had $7.8 billion in sales during fiscal year 2015.

Casey's plans to increase same-store sales 10.4 percent in fiscal year 2016. Same-store sales for the second quarter were up 9.4 percent.

William Walljasper, Casey's senior vice president and chief financial officer, said the company opened a 300,000-square-foot distribution center in Terre Haute, Ind., earlier this month. It will allow the company to expand into new territories to the east and south of its current footprint.

'It's highly automated and state of the art,” Walljasper said. 'We're looking forward to filling that facility.”

The $50 million distribution center, similar in size to Casey's Ankeny distribution center, will employ about 200 people when it is fully operational. It will supply merchandise to roughly 30 percent of the company's stores.