CU said on the 18th that it unveiled for the first time its urban regeneration store model "CU Re," which repurposes closed gas stations into convenience stores.
The first store, "CU Soheul IC," is located at a junction in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, connecting downtown Uijeongbu and the expressway. On a site of about 130 pyeong, it built a two-story store measuring 38 pyeong. By making maximum use of existing facilities such as the gas station's signboard, canopy and parking lot, it cut the expense and time needed for store development compared with constructing a new building.
It also kept the locational characteristics of a gas station. Leveraging the advantages of high visibility on a main road, easy vehicle access and ample space, the plan is to draw not only general drivers but also bus and freight truck drivers and nearby residents as customers.
The former fueling area was converted into a rest space available to customers and local residents. Applying KCC's Color Universal Design (CUD)-based safety environment solution, it distinguished vehicle access zones and pedestrian routes by color.
The first floor carries general convenience store goods and bulk items. Targeting customers who want to make quick purchases on the move, it also set up separate self-checkout counters that sell energy drinks, health supplements and more.
The second floor was arranged as a place where customers can stay. It features a rest area with recliners, a "ramen library" offering a variety of bagged ramen to choose from, and a space for cooking instant ramen. Whereas conventional roadside convenience stores were pass-through locations where customers bought cigarettes or drinks and left right away, this one focuses on increasing dwell time to encourage additional spending.
Early results are emerging. In the two weeks after CU Soheul IC opened, average ticket size was about 20% higher than at nearby standard stores. Sales are also strong for items that can be enjoyed on site, such as made-to-order smoothies and instant ramen.
CU has zeroed in on closed gas stations because related idle facilities continue to arise. According to the Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC), 100 to 200 gas stations nationwide have closed every year since 2010. CU expects that converting closed gas stations with high utilization value—such as main-road locations and parking space—into new commercial facilities can both secure new commercial districts and reduce idle spaces that would otherwise sit unused for long periods.
CU plans to introduce additional "CU Re" stores after reviewing factors such as commercial area, location and site utilization potential. Park Jeong-gwon, head of operations support at BGF Retail, said, "We planned a differentiated convenience store model that adds new value to idle spaces by leveraging the strengths of existing facilities and locations as closed gas stations," adding, "CU will continue to break away from standardized opening methods, develop new store models that use diverse spaces, and steadily expand customer touchpoints."