Ever wonder where the road meets reliable convenience? Circle K in San Antonio stands ready. Founded in 1951 in El Paso Texas, Circle K began with Fred Hervey purchasing three Kay’s Food Stores. He decided to rename them Circle K Food Stores Inc. rather than Kay.
Circle K grew from Texas into neighboring New Mexico and Arizona. Arizona became its home base in 1957. Did you know Hervey later served two terms as mayor of El Paso?
By 1975, Circle K boasted 1000 stores across the U.S. In 1979, Circle K expanded internationally with its first stores in Japan. Fast forward to today, and Circle K is a global brand.
Since the 1980s, Circle K became a convenience store giant in the United States. Though second to 7-Eleven in store count within the U.S., Circle K has more than 14800 stores worldwide.
Circle K’s presence spans 48 U.S. states. Nebraska and Utah are the exceptions. Louisiana boasts the highest concentration of Circle K stores. These stores sell fuel under various brands including Circle K and Shell.
In 2003, Alimentation Couche-Tard, a Canadian multinational, acquired Circle K. This acquisition marked a new chapter. Circle K began a global rebranding effort in 2015. Mac’s and Kangaroo Express stores adopted the Circle K banner.
Thirst Busters were introduced in 1983. Later known as Polar Pop, Circle K sells them in those iconic expanded polystyrene cups. Circle K sells about 17 Polar Pops every second in the United States.
Circle K even dipped its toe into the world of sports sponsorships. It sponsored IndyCar Series driver Ryan Hunter-Reay. In NASCAR, Circle K sponsored Matt Kenseth.
Circle K’s journey began in 1951. It continues as a go-to stop for snacks, drinks, and fuel. This Circle K location stands as a testament to that legacy, offering that same promise of convenience to San Antonio.