History of Sheetz in Timeline

Sheetz, Inc. is a family-owned American chain of convenience stores operating 24/7 year-round. It boasts over 750 locations across several states including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, and Michigan, employing over 21,000 individuals. Sheetz stores offer made-to-order fast food, and most locations include a gas station. Some locations are full truck stops that offer additional amenities.

1952: Sheetz, Inc. Founded

In 1952, G. Robert "Bob" Sheetz founded Sheetz, Inc. after purchasing one of his father's five dairy stores in Altoona.

1961: Steve Sheetz Hired

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

1963: Second Store Opened

In 1963, Sheetz opened its second store, named "Sheetz Kwik Shopper".

1968: Third Store Opened

In 1968, Sheetz opened its third store.

1969: Steve Sheetz Becomes General Manager

In 1969, Steve Sheetz was promoted to general manager, and the brothers planned to expand Sheetz at a rate of one store per year, targeting seven stores by 1972.

1972: Expansion to Fourteen Stores

In 1972, Sheetz expanded from seven to fourteen stores.

1976: First Store Outside of Pennsylvania

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

1981: Bob Sheetz Retires

In 1981, Bob Sheetz retired and Steve Sheetz became president of the company.

1983: 100 Stores Opened

By 1983, Bob and Steve Sheetz had opened 100 stores and the "Kwik Shopper" part was removed from "Sheetz Kwik Shopper".

1986: Made To Order (MTO) Line Introduced

In 1986, a Sheetz manager in Williamsport, Maryland, Earl Springer, introduced the Made To Order (MTO) line to boost lagging sales. Initially, customers filled out slips to customize their submarine sandwiches.

1995: Stan Sheetz Becomes President

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

1996: Touchscreen Ordering Introduced

Beginning in 1996, Sheetz phased out the paper ordering system for MTO items in favor of a picture-based touchscreen computer system, becoming the first company to implement this technology.

1997: Expansion into Ohio and Touchscreen Ordering

In 1997, Sheetz expanded into Ohio, opening a location in the Youngstown area and introduced touchscreen ordering. Shortly after, Sheetz expanded into North Carolina.

1999: MTO Sales Reach 10,000 Units Daily

By 1999, Sheetz was selling 10,000 MTO units a day. The company began training employees as baristas for its new brand, "Sheetz Bros. Coffeez,", and expanded its menu with the "Convenience Restaurant" concept and espresso bars.

September 2001: Distribution Center Opened

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

2003: Concept Store Opened in Hanes Mall

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

December 2004: MasterCard PayPass Introduced

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

July 10, 2006: E85 Ethanol Fuel Introduced

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 2007, Sheetz attempted to find a loophole to sell alcohol by classifying part of a store as a restaurant, but the Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania protested, temporarily barring Sheetz from selling beer. Sheetz won on appeal.

2008: "MTGo!" Rolled Out

During 2008, Sheetz rolled out "MTGo!", a grab and go assortment of sandwiches, wraps, fruits, veggies, and other small items for customers in a hurry.

2008: Sheetz Bros. Kitchen Opened

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

June 15, 2009: Sheetz Permitted to Sell Beer for Takeout

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

2009: "Shweetz Bakery" Items Unveiled

During 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 "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold"

In 2011, Sheetz gained national attention by serving as a major sponsor for Morgan Spurlock's film POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, selling collector cups and even having Altoona temporarily change its name for $25,000.

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2012: Contemplation of "Fuel-Free" Locations

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

October 2013: Stan Sheetz Becomes Chairman

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

November 2013: "Made to Order: The Sheetz Story" Published

In November 2013, Kenneth Womack's "Made to Order: The Sheetz Story" was published, tracing the company's history.

Made to Order: The Sheetz Story

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2014: Second Distribution Center Opened

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

2014: Plan Announced for WVU Fuel-Free Location

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

2014: Other Retailers Introduce PayPass

In 2014, retailers like McDonald's, Arby's, CVS, and rival 7-Eleven introduced MasterCard PayPass nationally, years after Sheetz had already adopted the technology.

February 2015: "Sheetz Café" Opened at WVU

In February 2015, Sheetz opened a "fuel-free" location on the campus of West Virginia University, in Morgantown, West Virginia, named "Sheetz Café."

September 2015: No-Fuel Café Opened in State College, PA

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

June 8, 2016: Pennsylvania Alcohol Sales Laws Changed

On June 8, 2016, Pennsylvania state law changed to allow the sale of alcohol in convenience stores, due to the passage of Act 39, spearheaded by Sheetz.

August 2016: No-Fuel Café Opened in Indiana, PA

In August 2016, Sheetz opened a no-fuel café in Indiana, Pennsylvania, on the border of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, replacing a previous store with gasoline.

September 2017: No-Fuel Café Opened in Charlottesville, VA

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

September 2019: Lease Non-Renewal with WVU Announced

In September 2019, Sheetz announced it would not renew their lease with WVU for the Morgantown location, without providing an explanation.

November 2019: Expansion into Greater Columbus Announced

In November 2019, Sheetz announced its plan to expand into Greater Columbus starting in 2021, with 60 locations planned by 2025.

December 19, 2019: 600th Store Opened

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

April 2021: First Columbus Area Store Opens

In April 2021, Sheetz opened its first of two stores in Delaware, Ohio, marking its arrival in the Greater Columbus area. Travis Sheetz mentioned the company considered expanding into Columbus as early as the late 1990s but chose North Carolina instead.

May 2021: Announcement of Charlottesville Location Closure

In May 2021, Sheetz announced that the Charlottesville location

April 2022: Successful Expansion into Columbus Market

After a successful expansion into the Columbus market in April 2022, Sheetz announced further expansion into the Dayton, Ohio market.

November 2022: Expansion into Michigan Announced

In November 2022, Sheetz announced its expansion into Michigan, marking its first new state in over 20 years, with an initial focus on Metro Detroit and 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 continue expanding south.

August 2023: First Montgomery County, Maryland Location Opens

In August 2023, the first Sheetz location in Montgomery County, Maryland, opened in Gaithersburg. The same month, Sheetz announced a new distribution center in Findlay, Ohio.

2023: IT Tech Center Expanded

In 2023, Sheetz expanded the space of their IT tech center in Pittsburgh's Bakery Square complex, which serves as a secondary headquarters.

April 2024: EEOC Sues Sheetz

In April 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued Sheetz, alleging that their 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, placing their logo on the sleeves of Pirates jerseys.

August 27, 2024: First Michigan Location Opens

On August 27, 2024, Sheetz opened its first Michigan location, in Romulus, Michigan. Around the same time, its first location in Greater Cincinnati opened in Franklin, Ohio.

2024: Expansion into Dayton, Ohio Market

In 2024, Sheetz announced plans to expand into the Dayton, Ohio market, setting up competition with Casey's, Speedway, Circle K, and United Dairy Farmers.