Wally’s, a St. Louis-based retailer, is expanding its presence in the Midwest with the announcement of a new location in Independence. This will be Wally’s fourth store, following the successful opening of three other large travel centers in the region over the past three years.
The Independence site, located near the intersection of Interstate 70 and Noland Road, was formerly a Kmart. Spanning an impressive 50,000 square feet, it will be Wally’s largest travel center to date. For comparison, the largest Buc-ee’s store is 74,000 square feet.
CEO Michael Rubenstein expressed excitement about the new location, stating, “Wally’s has closed on our first location in Independence, and is in discussion on other locations in the Kansas City metro. If all goes according to plan, we would be shovels in the ground in summer of 2024.” This indicates potential future expansion for the retailer in the area.
The Independence store will offer a range of amenities to cater to travelers’ needs. It will feature 80 gas pumps, including 20 electric vehicle fueling stations, ensuring customers have convenient options for refueling. Additionally, the store will include gourmet coffee, a popcorn station, a bakery, a beef jerky bar, and a sandwich shop, providing a variety of food and beverage choices.
However, Wally’s still has some work to do with the city of Independence to address certain challenges associated with the location. Rubenstein acknowledged this, saying, “We still have work to do with the city of Independence to clean up some of the challenges that exist at this spot, but we have been extremely appreciative of the city’s continued support and fully expect that we will be able to finalize all of the developmental items.”
Wally’s, founded in 2020 by Rubenstein and his cousin Chad Wallis, positions itself as the “Home of the Great American Road Trip.” The retailer aims to provide a unique and enjoyable experience for travelers, drawing on their own rural Missouri upbringing. In addition to the new Independence location, Wally’s has stores in Pontiac, Illinois, and Fenton, Missouri, with another one currently under construction in Whitestown, Indiana.
With its expansion plans and commitment to providing a wide range of services and amenities, Wally’s is poised to become a major player in the giant-gas-station game, following in the footsteps of Texas retailer Buc-ee’s, known for its massive convenience stores.
