A Convenience Store Chain is Selling its Iowa, Kansas Stores

A plethora of popular convenient stores will be closing in both Iowa and Kansas as the transition to new ownership will begin.

CSP Daily News reports that Yesway convenience stores/gas stations in the aforementioned states will be sold to a new buyer with hopes of growing the brand to be more prominent beyond its current locations. A company spokesperson explained the move to CSP Daily News:

As we continue to grow the Yesway brand and expand our offering to our customers, we may have the opportunity to divest certain stores that do not match our strategy and reinvest the proceeds in locations that enable us to provide a better customer experience. We plan to continue our growth and are focused on building the best network of store locations to meet the needs of our valued customers. As these stores in Iowa and Kansas transition to new owners by the end of this year, we do not anticipate there will be closures - a Yesway spokesperson, per CSP Daily News

Yesway has more than 20 stores in Iowa and Kansas, per its website's store map.

Yesway's future seems to be expansion in southern states such as Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. The company, which also owns the Allsup convenience store brand, explained in 2024 that was the direction they were taking. In December, three stores opened in Texas, along with two in New Mexico, with Yesway and Allsup accounting for over 400 stores across nine states.

2025 appears to be the year of significant changes for many Iowa convenience stores. After acquiring the Iowa-based chain Kum & Go in 2023, Maverik, whose parent company is FJ Management (better known as Flying J) has announced that it will begin the steps to phase out the brand in 2025. Kum & Go gas stations will be rebranded as "Maverik" gas stations.

On Maverik's official website, they've stated that they are "working hard to make the transition as seamless as possible," but note that "there will be some brief closures during each location's remodeling process. Per CNN, a specific timeline for when the Kum & Go name will be fully retired wasn't given.

Photo Credit: Google Maps

In August 2020, Yesway announced it was closing its Des Moines, IA headquarters, along with its Allsup corporate office in Clovis, NM, in favor of opening a dual headquarters in Fort Worth, TX.

Yesway also tires to pursue a $100 million initial public offering (IPO) in September 2021, only to pause the efforts to be a public company in December 2022.