New Circle K Location Opens on Alsobrook and Park Road.
Proudly standing at the corner of Alsobrook and Park Road, a Circle K gas station has served the community for just over three months. Behind its success stands manager Nicholas Conrad, whose journey to this position offers insights into the evolving convenience store industry.
Conrad’s roots are right here in Plant City, with his mother and fiancée both being teachers in the area. “We’re a Plant City family for sure,” he said.
Conrad’s early career included a position at Walmart before he found his way to Circle K. “After I graduated, I found this opportunity with Circle K, where they take recent college graduates and they put them into a program called C to C (college to convenience), so I spent a year with someone mentoring me to do the role, showing me how to do everything,” he explains. “I’ve been in the role for about two years now.”
Conrad now manages 14 different locations, the Alsobrook and Park Road store being the first he’s ever opened. He has high hopes for each of his locations, and the new one is no exception. “I want to really get our foot in the ground…we’re doing better than we projected,” he said.
The convenience store industry has evolved significantly over the past decade, transforming from simple gas stations with limited offerings to comprehensive service centers with fresh food, expanded grocery selections, and enhanced customer amenities.
The Alsobrook and Park Road location is unique, and Conrad is excited for customers to come in and see for themselves. “We have 16 regular fuel pumps that offer diesel, non-ethanol, premium, and on the backside, we have three trucker lanes where truckers can pull through; there’s no other location in Plant City that has that,” he stated. Gas isn’t the only thing the store has to offer, though, and even Conrad was impressed when he first saw the amenities the location has. “We have the full food program, so we offer all the fresh food, 17 cooler doors, which is the most I’ve ever seen,” he exclaimed.
Like many in management positions, Conrad faced challenges on his professional journey, particularly with opening the new location. “It took a lot, like two months’ worth of work between stocking, vendors, and hiring.”
According to Conrad, successful convenience store management requires a distinct skill set. “I guide them, make them understand that this is what we want to do, but don’t do it for them and give them the tools they need to succeed.”
The Alsobrook and Park Road location represents Circle K’s newest store concept, featuring expanded fresh food options, enhanced coffee stations, updated fuel technology, and community-focused design elements.
Technology also plays a role in this location, doing everything from testing food temperatures to scheduling employees in order to make everything run smoothly. The store employs team members from diverse backgrounds and experience levels, most of whom are locals to Plant City. Catering to the community is also very important to Conrad. When asked about community engagement, he said, “We have coupons, Inner Circle deals, all sorts of stuff to kind of help everybody out. We know times are tough,” said Conrad.
For food freshness, the store implements rigorous rotation protocols and performs quality checks multiple times daily. Fresh food offerings represent a growing segment of their business as customers now expect quality alongside convenience.
Technology underpins all store operations. Everything from point-of-sale systems to inventory management to customer loyalty programs relies on digital infrastructure that enhances customer service efficiency while generating valuable decision-making data.
Peak traffic management requires strategic planning. The team analyzes traffic patterns and schedules staff accordingly, ensuring adequate register coverage and quick pump turnover during morning and evening commute rushes.
Beyond transactions, Conrad sees community involvement as essential to the store’s identity and success. “I hope to get involved with the school system…I kind of have a heart for the school system, I know how tough it is.”
“We’re exploring partnerships with local businesses,” said Conrad. Looking toward the future, Conrad has clear aspirations to have his team ready for the Plant City community. “We’re always ready for the customer.”
