FRONT END Profile
Street Corner convenience stores are entirely franchisee-run. Those who own the company also have experience operating Street Corner stores.
Street Corner franchise from 2014 to 2019. “All of us that own the company actually have stores ourselves or have in the past,” Dhillon said. That distinction is something that Dhillon believes sets Street Corner apart from other franchise models. “We’re actual franchisees who are running the company. We’re not just some corporate guys who never, ever owned a Street Corner franchise. We understand what the issues are in the franchise world and how we’re going to fix them, and that’s because of our experiences as franchisees,” he added. The result is a ‘franchisee-centric’ company that works to make running a Street Corner business as easy as possible for franchisees. When CStore Decisions last profiled Street Corner in 2010, the company was focused on 300-1,000-square-foot stores and kiosks in shopping malls. Twelve years later, “a lot has changed,” Dhillon said. “We’re still in the mall business; it’s just not our focus.” Of the 38 franchisee-run sites that Street Corner has today, Dhillon estimates that around 20 are mall locations. “There are still mall stores that perform really well saleswise, and we’re keeping those open,” he said. But as it looks ahead, Street Corner plans to focus its growth on its three prototype models. THE EXPRESS
The Express model will appear at smaller stores — airports, college campuses, office buildings — in the 800-1,500-square-foot range, with cashierless checkout. “The Express model is going to have autonomous technology strictly because we’re not going to sell any age-restricted items at those stores, like tobacco, alcohol, etc.,” Dhillon said. One of his San Diego stores is the first Street Corner to feature autonomous checkout. “It’s in an office building, and there’s no cashiers. You swipe your debit or credit card to unlock the door, and you walk in. The artificial intelligence knows exactly who you are and what payment method is linked to you. You pick up what you want, and you walk right out,” he said. 12
CSTORE DECISIONS •
January 2022
URBAN MARKETS
When Dhillon joined Street Corner, he identified a gap in the market between large-scale organic grocery stores like Whole Foods and traditional convenience stores. Urban Market locations look to fill that gap with healthy convenience. “That’s where we saw the opportunity,” he said. At the Urban Market locations, guests can find the type of healthy, local and organic products they would find at an upscale organic grocery store as well as the typical fare they’d expect from a convenience store. Fresh grocery is a key component of this model, with an optional fullservice deli. Urban Market stores measure between 2,000 and 5,000 square feet and feature drive-throughs. There’s also a self-checkout stand in-store where customers can purchase non-age-restricted products. Mobile checkout will also be available through the Street Corner app. THE FUEL STATION
Traditionally, Street Corner stores have not featured fuel, but that’s changing now as Street Corner introduces the Fuel Station model. Fuel Stations are essentially Urban Market stores with a forecourt. At the end of November, Street Corner opened its first Fuel Station location in Aberdeen, S.D., partnering with Sinclair Oil as the gas brand. “A good thing about Street Corner is the franchisees can pick whatever fuel brand they like, and we help them negotiate the contracts,” Dhillon said. Fuel stations, like the one in Aberdeen, also feature order-at-the-pump technology. The pumps feature builtin 27-inch touchscreens that let fuel customers purchase in-store items and pay in a single transaction. Most items, including food, are available through the system, with the exception of age-restricted products. The credit card customers used for gas will also be charged for the products. Customers can collect their order at the drive-through, or they can have it delivered to their car via curbside pickup.
cstoredecisions.com
