Operations | Best New Store Design Awards
WINNER:
Oak Grove Market Oak Grove Market offers customers a spacious marketplace and foodservice destination with an upscale design.
Located in Prairieville, La., Oak Grove Market is a new-to-industry 6,000-square-foot convenience store that opened its doors in April 2022. CStore Decisions is recognizing Oak Grove Market with a “Best New Store Design Award” recognition for its upscale design, complete with a drive-through, a strong foodservice presence and ample guest seating inside and out. “I guess you could call it a hybrid,” said Gregg Patterson, who co-owns Oak Grove Market along with business partner, Ben Bercegeay. The business owners partnered with design firm Paragon Solutions to create the store design. “The store is half homemade, upper-scale marketplace, half convenience,” Patterson said. Patterson and Bercegeay also own and operate two Pit Stop convenience stores. Oak Grove Market is located on a high-traffic road, and although it’s not positioned adjacent to a stop sign or traffic light, the location still attracts attention; the store gets new customers every day. The building is primarily white and trimmed in brown oak. The forecourt with five Exxon-branded dispensers is situated on the side of the store. The 58
CSTORE DECISIONS •
February 2023
Best New Store Design Award
store includes a large parking lot for guests. “We didn’t put (the gas pumps) across the front because that’s not what I wanted people to see first,” said Patterson. The c-store also boasts a drive-through, where customers can order any item available in the store. Customers can also choose curbside pickup and order online through the Toast app. At the drive-through, the store has one threebarrel Icee machine and a fountain machine in addition to one on the store floor. If customers choose to spend more time at Oak Grove Market, they can sit at a table on the outdoor patio. A large glass garage door opens and allows the patio to flow directly into the interior, where guests will find two large wooden community tables with bar stools as well as bench seating. The location features around 60 seats, including both interior and exterior seating. “We’re proud of it. It’s a beautiful place,” said Patterson. cstoredecisions.com