Casey's Will Open 31 New Locations by January 2027

The convenience retailer will expand its footprint in rural markets across eight states.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing stylized geometric building and fuel column forms representing a retail expansion strategy. — Casey's announced plans to open 31 new convenience retail locations across eight states by January 2027, continuing its expansion into rural U.S. markets. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Casey's will open 31 new stores between October 2026 and January 2027 to expand its network of nearly 3,000 convenience stores. The company, which is the fifth-largest pizza chain in the U.S., focuses its growth on small-town locations with populations of 20,000 or fewer.

Why it matters

The expansion strategy highlights Casey's reliance on capturing demand in lower-population markets where the company has established a dual-revenue model of retail and food service. This move builds on the 19 stores opened since May 2026 to solidify its position as the third-largest U.S. convenience retailer.

Casey's is adding 31 new units to its current portfolio of nearly 3,000 stores. This follows the opening of 19 stores since May 2026, targeting communities with populations of 20,000 or fewer across 19 states.

The players

Casey's

A major convenience store retailer and pizza chain that operates nearly 3,000 locations across 19 U.S. states.

The details

Casey's maintains its market scale by focusing on small towns, a strategy it has employed since its 1968 founding in Boone, Iowa. The new units add to its presence across the Midwest and South, including markets in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Michigan, and Missouri. The company integrates pizza service into its convenience retail footprint to drive customer volume in these smaller demographics.

1968: The first Casey's location opened in Boone, Iowa.
May 2026: The start of the period during which 19 stores were opened.
October 2026: 13 new locations are scheduled for opening.
December 2026: 6 new locations are scheduled for opening.
January 2027: 9 new locations are scheduled for opening.

Market Landscape

Casey's expansion follows the company's established rural-focused growth model, which prioritizes market dominance in towns with populations under 20,000. This approach deviates from competitors that often focus on urban saturation, leveraging the company's specific dual-service retail and food model.

Operators in the Midwest and South should monitor Casey's encroachment on local markets, as the company frequently uses its high-volume pizza service to anchor convenience sales. Small-business owners in these regions should review their competitive differentiation and service offerings to counter the draw of larger convenience retail chains.

The takeaway

Casey's demonstrates the continued viability of a small-town growth strategy that integrates food service into convenience retail. Monitor the company's site-selection criteria, which focuses on markets with populations under 20,000, as an indicator of where this competitor may move next.