History of Sheetz in Timeline

Sheetz is an American chain of convenience stores operating 24/7, 365 days a year. The family-owned business has over 800 locations spread across several states, including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, and Michigan. They offer made-to-order food and gas, and select locations are truck stops with amenities like showers and laundromats. Sheetz employs over 21,000 people.

1952: Sheetz, Inc. Founded

In 1952, G. Robert "Bob" Sheetz founded Sheetz, Inc. when he purchased one of his father's five dairy stores located in Altoona.

1961: Steve Sheetz Hired

In 1961, Bob Sheetz hired his brother Steve to work part-time at Sheetz, Inc.

1963: Second Store Opens

In 1963, Sheetz opened its second store under the name "Sheetz Kwik Shopper."

1967: Third Store Opens

In 1967, Sheetz opened its third store.

1969: Steve Sheetz Becomes General Manager

In 1969, Steve Sheetz became the general manager of Sheetz.

1972: Expansion to Fourteen Stores

In 1972, Sheetz expanded from seven to fourteen stores.

1976: First Store Outside Pennsylvania

In 1976, Sheetz opened its first store outside Pennsylvania, in Maryland.

1983: Bob Sheetz Retires, Steve Sheetz Becomes President

In 1983, Bob Sheetz retired and Steve Sheetz became president of the company. By 1983, Bob and Steve had opened 100 stores. The "Kwik Shopper" was removed from "Sheetz Kwik Shopper".

1986: Made To Order (MTO) Line Introduced

In 1986, to boost lagging sales, Earl Springer, the manager of a Sheetz in Williamsport, Maryland, pursued a food concept which became Sheetz's signature Made To Order (MTO) line. Customers would fill out a small slip of paper, designating the ingredients they wanted on their submarine sandwiches. The kitchen staff would prepare the sub according to the customer's order.

1995: Stan Sheetz Becomes President, Steve Sheetz Becomes Chairman

In 1995, R. "Stan" Sheetz, Bob's son, became president of Sheetz, and Steve Sheetz assumed the position of chairman of the board.

1996: Touchscreen Ordering System Implemented

Beginning in 1996, Sheetz phased out the paper ordering system in favor of a picture-based touchscreen computer system for MTO orders.

1997: Expansion into Ohio and Introduction of Touchscreen Ordering

In 1997, Sheetz resumed store expansion, expanding into Ohio by opening a location in the Youngstown area along I-80. At that time, the company introduced touchscreen ordering and expanded into North Carolina.

1999: Sheetz Sells 10,000 MTO Units a Day

By 1999, Sheetz sold 10,000 MTO units a day. Employees were trained to function as baristas for its newest brand, "Sheetz Bros. Coffeez," offering higher-grade coffee. Customers could purchase a wide variety of food items, and the Espresso Bar, offering specialty coffees, was found at all locations.

September 2001: Distribution Center Opens in Claysburg, Pennsylvania

In September 2001, Sheetz opened a distribution center in Claysburg, Pennsylvania.

2003: Concept Store Opens in Hanes Mall

In 2003, Sheetz opened a concept store in the food court of Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This location offered Sheetz's made-to-order foods and fountain beverages in a more traditional fast food layout. The store did not function as a convenience store and has since closed.

December 2004: Introduction of MasterCard PayPass

In December 2004, Sheetz began offering their new MasterCard PayPass with RFID technology, becoming one of the first retailers to accept such technology.

July 10, 2006: Sheetz Offers E85 Ethanol Fuel

On July 10, 2006, Sheetz became Pennsylvania's second retail chain to offer E85 ethanol-based fuel alternatives at select stations.

2007: Attempt to Sell Alcohol in Prototype Store

In 2007, Sheetz tried to find a loophole to Pennsylvania state law prohibiting the sale of alcohol in convenience stores by classifying part of one of their prototype stores in Altoona as a restaurant, which would permit alcohol sales. The Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania protested, temporarily barring Sheetz from selling beer.

2008: MTGo! Introduced

During 2008–2009, Sheetz rolled out "MTGo!", a grab and go assortment of sandwiches, wraps, fruits, veggies, and other small items.

2008: First Commissary Opens

In 2008, Sheetz opened its first commissary, Sheetz Bros. Kitchen, to produce fresh sandwiches and bakery products sold at Sheetz locations.

June 15, 2009: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Permits Beer Sales for Takeout

On June 15, 2009, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court permitted Sheetz to sell beer for takeout under the condition that it is also available to drink on site.

2009: Shweetz Bakery Introduced

During 2008–2009, Sheetz unveiled "Shweetz Bakery" items, including donuts, fritters, and muffins made and delivered daily from the "Sheetz Bros. Kitchen" in Claysburg, Pennsylvania.

2011: Sponsorship of 'POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold'

In 2011, Sheetz gained national attention when it served as a major sponsor for Morgan Spurlock's film "POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold". Sheetz actively promoted the film in stores, including selling collector cups. Altoona even temporarily changed its name to "POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Pennsylvania" for $25,000. This was a ceremonial name change.

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2012: Contemplation of Fuel-Free Locations

In 2012, Sheetz again began contemplating "new concept", "fuel-free" locations.

October 2013: Stan Sheetz Becomes Chairman, Joe Sheetz Becomes President and CEO

In October 2013, Stan Sheetz became chairman of the board of Sheetz, and his cousin Joseph S. "Joe" Sheetz became president and CEO.

2014: McDonald's, Arby's, CVS, and 7-Eleven Introduce MasterCard PayPass

In 2014, McDonald's, Arby's, CVS, and 7-Eleven introduced MasterCard PayPass nationally.

2014: Second Distribution Center and Kitchen Facility Opens

In 2014, Sheetz opened its second distribution center and kitchen facility in Burlington, North Carolina.

2014: Plan Announced for Fuel-Free Location at WVU

In 2014, a plan was announced to open a "fuel-free" location on the campus of West Virginia University, in Morgantown, West Virginia. The intent was to call it "Sheetz MTO Market."

February 2015: "Sheetz Cafe" Opens at WVU

In February 2015, the "fuel-free" store opened at West Virginia University but was named "Sheetz Café".

September 2015: No-Fuel Cafe Opens in State College, PA

In September 2015, another no-fuel café opened in State College, Pennsylvania, near Pennsylvania State University.

June 8, 2016: Alcohol Sales Laws Changed in Pennsylvania

On June 8, 2016, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed Act 39 into law, changing alcohol sales laws in Pennsylvania to allow sales in convenience and grocery stores. Sheetz successfully led the effort to change the alcohol sales laws.

August 2016: No-Fuel Cafe Opens in Indiana, PA

In August 2016, in Indiana, Pennsylvania, on the border of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Sheetz which previously carried gasoline was torn down, and replaced with a no-fuel café.

September 2017: No-Fuel Cafe Opens in Charlottesville, VA

In September 2017, a fourth no-fuel café opened in Charlottesville, Virginia, directly across the street from the University of Virginia.

2018: Travis Sheetz Named President and COO

In 2018, Travis Sheetz was named president and chief operating officer, the first COO in the company’s history. Joe Sheetz remained president.

2018: Fiscal Year Sales Totaled $7.5 Billion

Sales for fiscal year 2018 totaled $7.5 billion.

September 2019: WVU Lease Not Renewed

In September 2019, Sheetz announced it would not renew their lease with WVU for the Morgantown location. The company offered no explanation for the closure.

November 2019: Expansion into Greater Columbus Announced

In November 2019, Sheetz announced that the chain would expand into Greater Columbus starting in 2021, with plans to open 60 locations in the region by 2025, more than doubling its existing store count in Ohio.

December 19, 2019: 600th Store Opens

On December 19, 2019, Sheetz celebrated the opening of its 600th store in Shaler Township, PA.

April 2021: Sheetz Opens First Store in Delaware, Ohio

In April 2021, Sheetz arrived in the Greater Columbus area with the opening of the first of two stores in Delaware, Ohio. Travis Sheetz mentioned the company had considered expanding into Columbus in the late 1990s but expanded into North Carolina instead. The recent expansion into Central Ohio was due to social media requests.

May 2021: Charlottesville Location Closure Announced

In May 2021, Sheetz announced that the Charlottesville location, on the corner of UVA would close in June.

January 2022: Travis Sheetz Assumes Roles of President and CEO

In January 2022, Joe Sheetz became executive vice chairman and Travis Sheetz assumed the roles of president and CEO.

April 2022: Successful Expansion into Columbus Market

After the chain's successful expansion into the Columbus market in April 2022.

November 2022: Expansion into Michigan Announced

In November 2022, Sheetz announced that the chain would expand into Michigan, its first new state in over 20 years, beginning in Metro Detroit with a planned opening in 2025.

December 23, 2022: Expansion into Wilmington, North Carolina Announced

On December 23, 2022, Sheetz announced an expansion into Wilmington, North Carolina to keep expanding south.

August 2023: First Sheetz in Montgomery County, Maryland Opens

In August 2023, the first Sheetz in Montgomery County, Maryland opened in Gaithersburg. Sheetz announced they would open a new distribution center in Findlay, Ohio, to support expansions into new markets.

2023: Expanded IT Tech Center

In 2023, Sheetz expanded the IT tech center in Pittsburgh's Bakery Square complex, serving as a secondary headquarters for the company.

April 2024: EEOC Sues Sheetz

In April 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued Sheetz, alleging that the company's usage of criminal background checks disproportionately impacted Black, Native American, and multiracial job applicants.

June 2024: Sponsorship Deal with Pittsburgh Pirates

In June 2024, Sheetz entered a sponsorship deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, adding their logo to the sleeves of Pirates jerseys. The Pirates' Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve, are in Sheetz's home city.

August 27, 2024: First Michigan Location Opens

On August 27, 2024, Sheetz opened its first Michigan location, in Romulus, Michigan. At around the same time, Sheetz opened its first location in Greater Cincinnati in Franklin, Ohio, with its first Hamilton County location expected to be in suburban Blue Ash.

2024: Expansion into Dayton, Ohio Market

Sheetz announced an expansion into the Dayton, Ohio market beginning in 2024. This move will put Sheetz up head-to-head with Casey's for the first time, while also competing with Speedway, Circle K, and United Dairy Farmers in the market.

June 2025: EEOC Moves to Drop Lawsuit

In June 2025, the EEOC moved to have the lawsuit dropped.

August 28, 2025: First Location in Pittsburgh City Limits Since the 1990s

On August 28, 2025, Sheetz announced it would build a location at a site of a former Rite Aid (originally Thrift Drug and later Eckerd) in Pittsburgh's Banksville neighborhood, marking Sheetz's first location in the Pittsburgh city limits since the 1990s.

2025: Company Overview

As of 2025, Sheetz has over 21,000 employees and operates more than 800 company-owned stores located in Western, Central, and Northeastern Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, and Michigan. The stores are open 24/7 year-round, offering made-to-order fast food. Most locations include a gas station, and some are full-scale truck stops with showers and a laundromat.

2025: Planned Expansion into Greater Columbus

By 2025, Sheetz plans to have opened 60 locations in the Greater Columbus region, more than doubling its existing store count in Ohio.

2025: Planned Opening in Metro Detroit

Sheetz plans a Metro Detroit opening in 2025.

February 12, 2026: First Location Opens in Philadelphia Metropolitan Area

On February 12, 2026, Sheetz opened its first location in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, in Limerick Township, Pennsylvania. The new location is across the street from a Wawa.