Gourmet food comes to Lexington convenience store

Starting Friday, folks in Lexington have a new source for gourmet food ... and that source is inside a convenience store.

You read that correctly.

When Circle K opens its newest concept store at 5445 Augusta Rd. across from the main branch of the Lexington County Public Library, it will feature a section focusing on fresh, gourmet foods prepared on site including handcrafted pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads, baked pastries and croissants, burritos and biscuits.

According to a news release from Circle K, shifting to healthier food options, fresh on-the-go snacks and gourmet coffee beverages has become a core strategy of Circle K as shoppers — Millennials, in particular — spend more money at convenience stores. In fact, convenience stores accounted for 11 percent of Millennial food and beverage stops in 2014, up from nearly 8 percent in 2006, according to NPD Group’s Eating Patterns in America study.

“Customers depend on us for convenience, fuel and on-the-go refreshment,” said Mark Ostoits, Vice President of the Southeast Division of Circle K. “We’re directly serving their needs by making it easier for them to find a Circle K store, as well as providing better-for-you options like fresh fruit, made-to-go sandwiches and gourmet espresso-based Simply Great Coffee beverages at stores throughout South Carolina—including the newest addition in Lexington.”

This is Circle K’s eighth location in Lexington, 42^nd store in the greater Columbia area and the second location in Columbia to offer the fresh, gourmet food options.

The new store is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to gourmet food options, customers will see amenities including gasoline, non-ethanol gasoline and diesel fuel; Polar Pop cups that can be filled with one of Circle K’s many fountain beverage options; Simply Great Coffee and Premium Coffee beverages; and Circle K Favorites such as bagged candy, nuts and trail mix. The location will also feature indoor and outdoor seating areas.

To commemorate the opening on Dec. 15, Circle K will offer customers who visit the store free coffee and Polar Pop cups to fill with their favorite fountain drink all day.

“We look forward to connecting with and refueling the Lexington community as we open this store and offer our customers great fresh, on-the-go food options,” said Ostoits.