This Is Illinois’ (And America’s) Favorite Convenience Store

The first convenience store in America opened its doors 99 years ago in Dallas, Texas. Since then, we have fallen pretty hard for the entire concept.

Gas? Check. Coffee? Check. Milk, eggs, lottery tickets, snacks, a gallon of windshield washer fluid and something vaguely resembling dinner? Perhaps a bag of softener salt and some firewood?

Yep, they've got that, too. And these days, some convenience stores have become destinations in their own right.

With so many choices, which one do Americans like the most?

A new study from the American Customer Satisfaction Index has the answer, and it isn't Buc-ee's.

Not you, sir. (Brandon Bell, Getty Images)

America's Favorite Convenience Store May Remind You Of A Grocery Store

Meijer is America's favorite convenience store for 2026, according to the ACSI, earning a customer satisfaction score of 82 out of 100. That's a five-point jump from last year and enough to move the Michigan-based company from a tie for seventh place all the way to the #1 spot.

Meijer is probably better known for its giant grocery stores, but its Meijer Express locations (two in the Rockford area) have apparently figured out the convenience-store game pretty well.

Three chains tied for second nationally: QuikTrip, Sheetz, and Wawa, all scoring 80. Last year's national champion, Kwik Trip, dropped from an impressive 84 to 79, putting it in a tie for fifth with Murphy USA.

And yes, the giant Texas sensation Buc-ee's took a step backward, too. It scored 77, good for a tie for seventh.

Scott Olson, Getty Images

As For Illinois...

For us here in Illinois, there's an interesting wrinkle. The ACSI doesn't break the rankings down by individual state, but Illinois is part of the Midwest region, and Sheetz actually leads the Midwest, with a regional score of 83. Meijer is right behind it at 82, followed by QuikTrip at 82.

And our familiar Casey's? It finished with a respectable 76 nationally, tied for 12th.

The study also found that convenience stores are becoming much more than places to grab a candy bar and fill the tank. Food service now accounts for nearly 29% of inside sales, and 15% of prepared-food visits involve customers who chose a convenience store instead of a traditional fast-food restaurant.

In other words, we've come a long way since 1927.

Apparently, we're now expecting our convenience stores to feed us, fuel us, reward us, entertain us, and maybe have a clean bathroom while they're at it.

In Japan, there's a lot more to the convenience store: