Other Tonganoxie convenience stores add services, tweak hours
Though B&J BP no longer will have a convenience store, Tonganoxie still has three other options.
All of them, like BP, are along U.S. Highway 24-40: Fastrax, 420 Stone Creek Dr.; G&P Country Market, 1204 E. U.S. Highway 24-40; and Casey’s, 220 West St.
Paulet Courtney, manager at Casey’s, said business is doing well and the store’s offerings will expand starting today with pizza delivery. The store has been serving carry-out pizza for years, but now will offer delivery within a 15-mile radius.
“We’re looking for business to really start picking up,” Courtney said about pizza delivery.
Fastrax opened about eight years ago and started as a 24-hour operation. But in October, the business reduced its daily hours and now is open 5 a.m.-11 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, and 6 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Manager Rhonda Dalquest said the change has been good for business.”It ended up being a place for everyone to loiter,” Dalquest said about the late-night hours. “That was the biggest problem. That’s just not good for business … too much of a social hour.”
She said it was good having the business open overnight for people who work late, but Dalquest, who has been manager the past five years at the store, said the change has worked out well.
“We finally crunched all the numbers and it was just not good business after a certain time,” she said.
Like B&J BP, Fastrax will have an overnight pay-at-the-pump option. Customers can purchase gasoline outside store hours at the pump with a debit or credit card. Dalquest said she anticipates the service being available beginning in May or June.With Fastrax reducing its store hours, G&P Country Market now is open the latest in Tonganoxie.The store is open 4 a.m. to midnight, Mondays through Thursdays, and 4 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays. On Sundays, it’s open 5 a.m.-midnight.Suzanne Brown, who works at G&P, said the store extended its hours after Fastrax reduced its hours last fall and business continues to be steady.”Oh yeah,” Brown said. “I’ve been really busy.”