QuikTrip Expands Chicago Presence with New Travel Center

QuikTrip (QT) has announced the opening of its newest travel center in South Holland, Ill., continuing the chain’s rapid expansion across the Chicago area and the state of Illinois.

The new South Holland travel center, according to a QT statement, is designed to serve both residents and drivers traveling through the area along the Tri-State Tollway with a clean and convenient stop for fuel, food and drinks.

Travel center features

The location features a larger lot and a more spacious store design than a traditional QT. It has room to service 16 vehicles for gas and six diesel bays for trucks.

Inside, customers will find QT Kitchens, the company’s signature foodservice offering, featuring a wide selection of grab-and-go meals and made-to-order options. Coffee drinkers can also enjoy QT’s coffee system that offers 12 choices on tap, including hot and iced lattes made with real milk and freshly ground beans.

“For many Chicago-area customers who may still be getting to know QT, the South Holland location offers more than a traditional convenience store stop,” the statement read. “From fresh food and customized drinks to fast service and clean stores, QT is bringing a customer experience designed for quick morning commutes, lunch stops, road trips and everyday visits.”

Job creation and growth

Each new QT creates approximately two dozen local jobs with competitive pay, medical coverage, tuition reimbursement and outstanding retirement benefits.

“Cities and towns across Chicagoland and the state of Illinois have continued to embrace QT, and we are excited to join the South Holland community,” said Aisha Jefferson, QuikTrip corporate communications manager. “For customers who are new to QT, we look forward to introducing them to the fresh food, great drinks, clean stores and friendly service that makes us more than a place to fuel up. Our travel center model gives residents and travelers a dependable stop with the speed, consistency and quality they can count on.”

The South Holland opening continues the company’s recent Chicagoland growth, including its Minooka and Bridgeview locations that opened earlier this year and additional locations under construction in Rolling Meadows and Kankakee.

Chicago and colorado expansion

As QT continues to build out its network in Chicago and Illinois, it is also growing in Colorado. Earlier this month, the chain unveiled a brand-new location in Denver, which opened to the public on July 2.

QT opened its first Colorado location in Firestone in 2022. The chain currently has an additional 14 Denver metro area stores under construction.

The new Aurora site, according to a statement from the company, features its QT Kitchens concept, which offers a wide range of made-to-order food options, expanded beverage selections and “an operating model designed to prioritize speed and consistency across company-owned stores.”

“QuikTrip’s approach is fundamentally changing the customer experience for convenience stores in Colorado by combining high-quality food and beverage options with a consistent service model, while also maintaining a strong commitment to the communities where we operate,” said Jefferson at the time. “We appreciate the business-friendly climate in Aurora with forward-thinking leaders and a Chamber of Commerce encouraging investment across their city.”

To commemorate the opening, QT announced a $300,000 donation to the Aurora Police Department and a $100,000 grant to The Family Tree, a local nonprofit that focuses on preventing and addressing child abuse, domestic violence and homelessness.