PITTSFIELD, Ill. - Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey??s General Stores is looking to boost convenience store competition in the town of Pittsfield, reports the Herald-Whig.

"We do have some land under contract but are not expected to close until July 2013, then it will take us four to five months to build a store from there," said Brian Johnson, vice president of finance for Casey??s. "A lot can happen between now and then, but we would love to be in the town of Pittsfield."

Casey's would be the third convenience retailer to locate at the intersection of Washington and Jackson Streets, which is already home to the Tee Pee Mini Mart and a Jiffi Stop.

"In the convenience store business, you look for traffic count, location, and it doesn't surprise me if a high traffic (area) will see more competition," Johnson told the newspaper, adding, "With Illinois our second largest state, we have pretty strong brand name recognition. I don't want to say we're not afraid of competition. There's a lot of good operators out there, but where we set ourselves apart will be in the foodservice."

Although details of the new store are in the early stages, Johnson said the store would offer a full foodservice menu in an attractive store setting. "We're kind of known for our pizza and doughnuts, but in the new stores, we're putting made-to-order sub sandwiches and an expanded coffee bar. ??Regardless of which store design, we'll have those. They've been very well received by customers." Newer Casey??s stores average 3,800 square feet.

Pittsfield Mayor John Hayden said the city would welcome the retailer: "I've had the public time and time again say, 'When will we get a Casey??s???"