QuikTrip Corp. Opens New Travel Center in Illinois as It Eyes Indiana and $11B Growth Trajectory

With over 1,100 stores and counting, QuikTrip Corp. is no longer just a regional convenience store chain. It’s a multi-billion-dollar force reshaping the American roadside. Its latest move? A bold new travel center in Central Illinois.

The new location, QuikTrip’s 15th in the state, opened in Bloomington. For the Tulsa-based retailer, it’s not just another pin on the map. It’s a statement about where the company is heading and how it wants to be seen.

The Bloomington travel center is bigger and more versatile than traditional QuikTrip Corp. stores. With 20 gas fueling positions and six diesel bays for trucks, it’s clearly designed to capture both local and long-haul traffic. It’s also part of a broader play: redefining convenience for the modern traveler.

A Format Built for the Interstate

QuikTrip’s travel center model is no accident. These larger-footprint stores are calibrated for heavy throughput, offering truck-friendly infrastructure, expanded parking, and faster service for drivers on the move.

Inside, the concept goes far beyond fuel. From made-to-order breakfast tacos to hardwood-smoked barbecue sandwiches and QT’s popular QuikShake, the kitchens are built to rival fast-casual restaurants. Grab-and-go meals include subs, wraps, pizza by the slice, and fresh donuts, standard fare with a proprietary edge.

It’s what QuikTrip Corp. calls “QT Kitchens,” and it’s been a key part of their brand evolution over the past decade. In Bloomington, that kitchen is now serving both commuters and truckers with the same level of speed and customization.

The location employs 24 people and was designed to function as a full-service hub, not just a pit stop.

“We are excited to expand QuikTrip’s signature commitment to quality and efficient service to Illinois by opening our new travel center in Bloomington,” said Aisha Jefferson, QuikTrip’s Communications Manager. “Our travel center model will offer a clean and friendly stop for local residents as well as the many travelers driving through central Illinois.”

Eyes on Indiana, Roots in the Midwest

While the Midwest is a critical region for QuikTrip Corp., it’s not the only one seeing growth. The company also recently opened a new store in Conroe, Texas, and has plans underway in Indiana. Those Indiana locations, Daleville and Battle Ground, mark the chain’s first entries into the Hoosier State.

In Illinois, QuikTrip Corp. is accelerating momentum. A second Rockford location opened near Sandy Hollow Road with expanded diesel service and a full QT Kitchen. Construction is also beginning on a store in Yorkville, west of Chicago, with a projected opening in early 2026.

This clustered strategy, expanding deeply in specific markets, has become a hallmark of QuikTrip’s approach. Rather than scatter stores across states, they go deep, making each new market feel like a home turf.

$11 Billion and No Signs of Slowing 

Founded in 1958, QuikTrip Corp. has grown into a privately held empire with over 31,000 employees and operations in 19 states. It now ranks No. 9 on CSP’s Top 202 list of U.S. convenience store chains by store count.

That ranking may not fully capture its influence.

QuikTrip Corp. isn’t just growing but evolving, too. The company’s mix of retail, foodservice, and infrastructure investment positions it uniquely in a convenience industry that’s being reshaped by logistics, supply chain disruptions, and changing consumer habits.

The pivot to travel centers speaks volumes. Bigger lots, broader menus, and diesel offerings signal a brand thinking about mobility at scale. Not just the daily coffee run, but the long-haul driver, the road-tripping family, and the regional economy in motion.

By moving aggressively into Central Illinois and soon Indiana, QuikTrip is betting on the Midwest’s enduring role as a transportation artery. For those tracking retail, real estate, or regional growth, this is more than a new gas station. It’s a well-financed indicator of where roadside commerce is headed next.And QuikTrip Corp. is aiming to be one of the first names travelers see when they get there.