History of Sheetz in Timeline
Sheetz, Inc. is a prominent American convenience store chain operating 24/7, 365 days a year. Known for its extensive made-to-order food options and gas stations, some locations also function as truck stops. The family-owned company employs over 21,000 people and boasts more than 750 stores across several states including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, and Michigan.
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.
1963: Second Store Opened
In 1963, Sheetz opened its second store under the name "Sheetz Kwik Shopper."
1969: Steve Sheetz Becomes General Manager
In 1969, Steve Sheetz was promoted to general manager of Sheetz.
1972: Company Expansion
In 1972, Sheetz expanded from seven to fourteen stores.
1976: First Store Outside Pennsylvania
In 1976, Sheetz opened its first store outside of Pennsylvania, 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. The "Kwik Shopper" was also removed from "Sheetz Kwik Shopper".
1986: Made To Order (MTO) Line Launched
In 1986, Earl Springer, the manager of a Sheetz in Williamsport, Maryland, pursued a food concept which became Sheetz's signature Made To Order (MTO) line.
1995: Stan Sheetz Becomes President
In 1995, Stanton R. "Stan" Sheetz, Bob's son, became president, and Steve Sheetz became chairman of the board.
1996: Touchscreen Ordering System Introduced
Beginning in 1996, the paper ordering system was phased out in favor of a picture-based touchscreen computer system.
1997: Expansion into Ohio
In 1997, Sheetz resumed store expansion by expanding into Ohio, opening a location in the Youngstown area. Touchscreen ordering was introduced at that time.
1999: 10,000 MTO Units Sold Daily
By 1999, Sheetz was selling 10,000 MTO units a day.
September 2001: Distribution Center Opens
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. This location offered Sheetz's made-to-order foods and fountain beverages in a more traditional fast food layout.
December 2004: MasterCard PayPass Introduced
In December 2004, Sheetz began offering their new MasterCard PayPass with RFID technology.
July 10, 2006: E85 Ethanol-Based Fuel
On July 10, 2006, Sheetz became Pennsylvania's second retail chain to offer E85 ethanol-based fuel alternatives at select stations.
2006: Rivals Introduced PayPass
In 2006, McDonald's, Arby's, CVS, and rival 7-Eleven all introduced PayPass nationally.
2007: Alcohol Sales Loophole Attempted
In 2007, Sheetz tried to find a loophole around Pennsylvania state law prohibiting alcohol sales in convenience stores by classifying part of one of their prototype stores in Altoona as a restaurant.
2008: "MTGo!" Introduced
During 2008, Sheetz rolled out "MTGo!", a grab and go assortment of sandwiches, wraps, fruits, veggies, and other small items for the hurried customer.
2008: Sheetz Bros. Kitchen Opens
In 2008, Sheetz opened its first commissary, Sheetz Bros. Kitchen, to produce fresh sandwiches and bakery products.
June 15, 2009: Permission to Sell Beer for Takeout Granted
On June 15, 2009, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court gave Sheetz permission to sell beer for takeout under the condition that 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 when it served as a major sponsor for Morgan Spurlock's film POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold.
2012: "Fuel-Free" Locations Contemplated
In 2012, Sheetz again 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, and Joseph S. "Joe" Sheetz became president and CEO.
November 2013: The Sheetz Story Published
In November 2013, Kenneth Womack's "Made to Order: The Sheetz Story" was published, tracing the company's history.
2014: Second Distribution Center and Kitchen Facility Opened
In 2014, Sheetz opened its second distribution center and kitchen facility in Burlington, North Carolina.
2014: Plan Announced to Open 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. The intent was to call it "Sheetz MTO Market".
February 2015: "Sheetz Cafe" Opens in Morgantown
In February 2015, a fuel-free "Sheetz Café" opened on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia, instead of "Sheetz MTO Market".
September 2015: No-Fuel Café Opens in State College
In September 2015, another no-fuel café opened in State College, Pennsylvania, near Pennsylvania State University.
June 8, 2016: Alcohol Sales Laws Changed
Sheetz successfully led the effort to change alcohol sales laws in Pennsylvania to allow sales in convenience and grocery stores, which became law when Governor Tom Wolf signed Act 39 into law on June 8, 2016.
August 2016: No-Fuel Café Opens in Indiana, Pennsylvania
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 that opened in August 2016.
September 2017: No-Fuel Café Opens in Charlottesville
A fourth no-fuel location opened in September 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia, directly across the street from the University of Virginia.
2018: 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 they would not renew their lease with WVU for the Morgantown location.
November 2019: Columbus Expansion Announced
In November 2019, Sheetz announced the chain would expand into Greater Columbus starting in 2021.
December 19, 2019: 600th Store Opened
On December 19, 2019, Sheetz celebrated the opening of its 600th store in Shaler Township, PA.
April 2021: Columbus Expansion Begins
In April 2021, Sheetz started its expansion into the Columbus area with the opening of the first of two stores in Delaware, Ohio.
May 2021: Charlottesville Location Closing
In May 2021, Sheetz announced that the Charlottesville location would close in June that was located on the corner at UVA.
April 2022: Expansion into Dayton Announced
In April 2022, Sheetz announced an expansion into the Dayton, Ohio market beginning in 2024.
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 Store in Montgomery County, Maryland Opened
The first Sheetz in Montgomery County, Maryland opened in August 2023 in Gaithersburg. That month, 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 space in Pittsburgh's Bakery Square complex.
April 2024: EEOC Lawsuit Filed
In April 2024, Sheetz was sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for alleged discriminatory hiring practices.
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.
August 27, 2024: First Michigan Location Opened
Sheetz opened its first Michigan location, in Romulus, Michigan, on August 27, 2024.
2024: Dayton Expansion Begins
Sheetz announced an expansion into the Dayton, Ohio market beginning in 2024. The move will put Sheetz up head-to-head with Casey's for the first time, while also competing with Speedway, Circle K, and UDF in the market.
2025: 60 Locations Planned
Sheetz plans to open 60 locations in the Columbus region by 2025, more than doubling its existing store count in Ohio.
