North Jersey based QuickChek convenience store is looking to move further into South Jersey, with a proposed location for Westampton (Burlington County) along Burlington-Mount Holly Road (Route 541), close to the Turnpike Exit 5.
The proposal will be heard by Westampton’s Land Development Board on November 6th. Virtual “Zoom” Meeting details at bottom of article.
If you’re unfamiliar with QuickChek, the North Jersey based convenience store brand is in the same category as Wawa, following a similar model of an approximately 4,500 to 5,700 square foot convenience store building and an associated covered gas station pump area.
In 2020 QuickChek was acquired by Murphy USA which has 1,500 sites under different brands throughout other parts of the United States, and they saw the QuickChek acquisition as an opportunity to enter into the Northeast marketplace. It seems they are focused on expanding.
If approved, the new QuickChek for Westampton would be developed directly across from Home Depot/Target/Kohl’s (and new Dunkin).
The land for the proposed QuickChek is a large undeveloped parcel which has been the focus of several development proposal over the years but has shifted somewhat recently, replacing some retail components with a warehouse development (which was approved by Westampton earlier this year).
As part of the developments in this area, Irick Road where it connects to Route 541 will be relocated about 350 feet east so that it aligns with Western Drive. A new traffic signal will be installed there.
Today Irick Road serves as the town line between Westampton and Burlington Township. When Irick Road is realigned 350feet to the East, it will leave a 2+ acre wedge-shaped parcel of land in Westampton, where the QuickChek would be developed.
Convenience stores each have their own specialty “thing”. Wawa is known for their hoagies and Royal Farms is known for their fried chicken.
It seems QuickChek offers an in-store bakery… but it’s been a few years since I’ve visited a location, so I am not entirely sure how extensive that is, but I will be visiting a location very soon!
Many of the QuickChek stores also feature indoor and outdoor seating areas. While I am not certain if this will be offered at the Westampton location, at 5,670 square feet it matches recently opened stores in Scotch Plains and Totawa, both featuring 10 indoor seats as well as outdoor seating.
South Jersey Convenience Store Wars – Part 2?
While this proposed QuickChek is only 15 minutes south of their existing Bordentown/Fieldsboro location, this Westampton proposal feels “different” in that it’s getting deeper into what most consider South Jersey, an area that is dominated by Wawa in the convenience store gas station space.
In fact, this same QuickChek property in Westampton was first approved for a convenience store in 2019, and online real estate documents show that it was originally intended to be a Wawa!
Wawa rarely comments on projects in the early stages, so there’s no information as to why they did not go forward with the Westampton property.
This would not be the first time Wawa faced competition within it’s important South Jersey territory.
Several years ago Wawa felt some pressure from the South as Baltimore based Royal Farms came into the core South Jersey counties and opened several locations including Bellmawr, Gloucester, Magnolia, Blackwood and more. Royal Farms is still operating in South Jersey but it has now been several years since they’ve opened any others in the region.
In recent years Wawa has been on a big store opening explosion throughout the Counties of Gloucester and Camden and I am convinced it was as much a defensive move related to Royal Farms (and other brands) for Wawa to “lock-in” key neighborhoods with new stores, making it difficult for other Convenience store brands to gain a strong foothold in the area.
Am I jumping too far by wondering if this is the start of a looming QuickChek invasion into South Jersey?
Well I will share that my construction industry contacts have previously informed me that QuickChek has been mentioned in early stage discussions for two different Gloucester County locations, and I have seen actual architectural site plans for an early discussion QuickChek that was considered for a town right in the heart of the 42Freeway coverage space!
And you know the saying “where there is smoke…”
Irick Road Realignment Commercial Developments
Clearly this area of Burlington-Mount Holly Road around Route 295 and the Turnpike is a hot spot for commercial development in recent years for new quick-casual restaurants as well as warehouses.
Just a half mile away Raising Cane’s, Freddy’s Steakburgers and Panera have recently opened. A new Dunkin opened this year in a property directly across from this proposed QuickChek.
For the proposed QuickChek, it is part of a retail development called Fountain Square which has seem some changes to its original plans from 5 years ago (pre-pandemic).
Regardless of what is developed, the project will include the realignment of Irick Road… moving the roadway’s connection point to Burlington-Mount Holly Road to the east about 350 feet so that it is in alignment with Western Drive on the other side busy highway.
A traffic signal would be added there, which should provide better (and safer) customer access to the commercial developments on both sides of Burlington-Mount Holly Road.
In it’s current position Irick Road defines the town boundary in this area between Westampton and Burlington.
When Irick is relocated it will leave a 2.7+ acre parcel in Westampton Township to the West of Irick Road. This is where the 5,670 square foot QuickChek is planned to be developed.
Online documents show that the Fountain Square project originally was to stretch further west to the Turnpike, and was to include eight new free-standing buildings along the roadway as well as four larger strip mall/big box stores in the rear.
Today it appears the project is focused on five buildings all to be developed West of the realigned Irick Road, with the Eastern portion of the undeveloped lands (to the Turnpike) being slated for the construction of a new 200,000+ square foot warehouse.
As mentioned immediately next to the realigned Iriclk will be QuickChek (Westampton) and then four other retail buildings were approved for Burlington Twp… two of which are planned to be a Panda Express and a Sparks Car wash (which were just approved earlier this month)
Links and Location
QuickChek Conveneniece Store Westampton – Proposed
Burlington-Mount Holly Road at Irick Road
Westampton NJ
Meeting Details
This application will be heard at the regular meeting of the Board on November 6, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. via ZOOM. Pursuant to NJAC 5:39-1.7(c) any individual wishing to give sworn testimony at a meeting shall appear by video in addition to audio. Anyone not on video will not be able to testify at a meeting. To Join the Zoom Meeting go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81250203695 Meeting ID: 812 5020 3695 Copies of the Applicant’s application, maps and papers are on file with the Administrative Officer of the Board and may be inspected by the public during normal business hours in the Westampton Township Municipal Building, 710 Rancocas Road, Westampton, NJ. Any interested party may appear at said hearing and participate therein in accordance with the rules of the Board. Please take further notice that the Board may, at its discretion, adjourn, postpone, or continue said review from time to time and you are hereby notified that you should make diligent inquiry of the Board Office concerning such adjournments, postponements or continuations.