Updating Your Existing C-Store Award: Eagles Nest

MORE STORE. A renovation added extra room as well as cooler displays holding fresh grab-and- go items to Eagles Nest.

SUNY College at Brockport
Brockport, NY

Opened: 2009
Gross Sales/Day: $2,500-$3,000

Eagles Nest replaced a previous campus c-store called the SNAX Station that had been built on a shoestring budget, was small and confined and overshadowed by the nearby TRAX foodservice operation with its high-volume pizza, sub and salad offerings. SNAX suffered from limited square footage, inadequate shelf space and a footprint that didn't allow expansion.

The solution: move the store and expand it to 520 sq.ft. by taking some space from a modified TRAX. The result: extra room and shelf space that, along with hand-held scanners that speed checkout, has allowed sales to increase and gave added promotion opportunities. The design allows for easy navigation with organized shelving and clearly labeled sections, and there is now enough space for item displays when in-store promotions and contest are offered.

The increased space allows greater variety — fresh grab-and-go sandwiches and salads, frozen meals, branded sushi, natural and organic foods, a candy section and even a Starbucks “Proudly Brew” counter selling not just coffee drinks but milkshakes and smoothies.

The numbers tell the story as sales have skyrocketed by 156%, to over $500,000 in the 2009-10 school year. That was accompanied by a 115% increase in product movement and an 8% jump in check average (to $2.65).