Five Stores in Cedar Rapids Metro Have Closed Their Doors For Good

Ok, so their spelling is a little off, but you get the idea. It's bad news aplenty around the Cedar Rapids metro.

Late this winter, we learned that a series of stores in the area were being sold, and were changing their name/affiliation. What at first seemed like great news has quickly turned to disappointment.

It wasn't long ago that I was near the corner of 42nd St. and Center Point Road NE in Cedar Rapids when I noticed the gas price sign showed fuel was selling for under $3.00 per gallon. I was astounded. Not surprisingly there was a line so, even though I needed gas, I drove on.

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As it turns out, the Sinclair at that location was most likely trying to empty their fuel tanks. The store is now closed. It's not alone.

The same story has been repeated at several other locations in the Cedar Rapids metro. A silent parking lot with a nearly empty store. In some cases, yellow tape is wrapped around the gas pumps.

The photo below is from the Sinclair at the corner of Center Point Road and Blairs Ferry Road NE, just under a mile from the location at 42nd Street and Center Point Road NE.

According to the Corridor Business Journal, all of the stores were part of a sale and rebranding from Kwik Shop to Brew Oil. The sales took place in the first two months of this year but several of the locations had just recently finished the exterior makeovers of the stores to from Kwik Shop to Sinclair.

The Cedar Rapids stores that are now closed permanently are located at 1003 First Ave. SW, 3301 J St. SW, 2904 Center Point Road NE, and 4201 Center Point Road NE. The other is the store at the corner of Blairs Ferry Road N.E. and Center Point Road. That location (photo below) is in Hiawatha:

Signage in the window of that store is similar to other locations and seems to indicate the closure was a quick one:

The Cedar Rapids metro is seemingly filled with convenience stores. As you look around in some locations, you wonder how they can all survive. Sadly, these five didn't. Here's hoping they're the only five that can't.