Lawton EZ GOs to reopen as Casey’s convenience stores

An Iowa-based convenience store chain will take control of seven EZ GO convenience stores in Lawton in the next week.

Katie Petru, director of communications for Casey’s General Stores, confirmed Thursday the chain had purchased 11 EZ GO stores in Oklahoma and Nebraska. According to the company, seven Lawton EZ GOs will reopen as Casey’s in December. They include: Dec. 5: 3164 Cache Road and 2808 NW 52nd; Dec. 8: 3003 E. Gore and 2620 W. Gore; and Dec. 9: 5120 W. Lee, No. 1 NW 67th and 6439 Cache Road.

Love’s had purchased the EZ GO sites from Carey Johnson Oil Company in mid-April, a deal that included six travel stops on Oklahoma turnpikes, five on Kansas turnpikes and 11 stores in Oklahoma and Nebraska, including ones in Lawton. Those stores were to have been rebranded to Love’s within the next 12 months, Love’s officials said in April. Local officials have made no comment on the issue.

According to Casey’s website, as of Oct. 1, the company held 2,500 stores in 16 states, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri. Convenience stores in Chickasha, Oklahoma City, Norman, Yukon and Ardmore already are open, according to the website.

“We are still evaluating plans for several of these locations, specifically where our pizza will be available, as it requires having a kitchen and other considerations,” Petru said in her statement.

Petru salso said some locations already are offering Casey’s homemade pizza and other prepared food items, along with other items found at convenience stores.

Casey’s General Stores already owns multiple convenience store chains, including 49 Oklahoma Circle K stores it purchased in March 2021. They also purchased Bucky’s Convenience Stores in May 2021 and Pilot’s Convenience Stores in December 2021.