Atlanta-based convenience retailer RaceTrac is looking to create a new 20,000 -square-foot, two-story location in Cobb County, Georgia, reported Tomorrow’s News Today. The showcase store is expected to function as both a full-service retail site as well as a research and development lab. 

According to the filing, if approved, the location will house a convenience store along with a restaurant, meeting and training areas, offices and a chef’s kitchen. Additionally, about 1,600 square feet of space is specified as a “research and development center.”

"This store will provide RaceTrac a location to try out new services, meet with vendors and have a showcase operation for training purposes," the proposal said.

RaceTrac is also proposing 16 fuel stations and 12 EV charging stations at the location, which would be open 24/7.

The targeted site is currently a Barnes and Noble location. RaceTrac is seeking to have the property rezoned to “community retail commercial” to more easily allow for the mixed store footprint. The proposal is currently scheduled to be heard before Cobb County’s board of commissioners planning commission on December 5.

There is no current timeline as to when the Barnes and Noble on-site may close, but planning documents suggest that RaceTrac may begin work on the location as early as June 2024, reported Tomorrow’s News Today.

In October, RaceTrac debuted its first EV charging station in Oxford, Alabama.

According to RaceTrac, “While the Oxford charging station marks a significant milestone for RaceTrac, it’s only the beginning of the business’ journey into the EV market. Over the coming months and years, RaceTrac will continue to expand its EV charging network, underscoring the commitment to meet guest needs and deliver on the promise of making people’s lives simpler and more enjoyable.”

The convenience retailer is also entering the Midwest. The company’s first Indiana location is slated to open in mid-December, with a second location expected to open in late spring 2024. RaceTrac also received approval to build its first location in Ohio.