Sunday, October 21, 2001

39 Convenience stores

Like Colombia exports coffee, Corpus Christi exports convenience stores. One local company owns 336 in Texas and Oklahoma. With more than 200 stores in the city, it is common to find two or three convenience stores in a block. Convenience chain operators in this city pioneered the pairing of convenience stores with gas pumps.
   Historic moment
   In 1970, the Susser family, which owns those 336 stores, invented the card-operated pay-at-the-pump system in association with IBM.
   Big shots
   SSP, the Susser family's company name, operates all of the Circle K's in the area. Valero Energy Corp. owns 26 Diamond Shamrock stores in the Corpus Christi and Portland areas.
   The others
   More than 60 stores, including 13 Times Markets and Pittman's Quick Mart
   Lotta Lotto
   Pittman's Quick Mart, 4249 McArdle Road, has sold the most Texas Lottery tickets in the city - $5,503,855.50 since 1992.
   Heard in a country song
   "Send somebody to the Stop 'N Go. We need some celery and a can of fake snow."
   From "Merry Christmas From the Family," by Robert Earl Keen Jr.
   Sources: SSP Partners, Texas Lottery Commission, Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, U.S. Census Burea
  
  

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