Duchess’ new flagship store delivers the royal treatment

In 1961, FW Englefield III founded Englefield Oil Co. with three service stations and an office operating out of his basement. Over the course of the next decade, his idea for a full line of convenience stores to better serve customers began taking shape. Then, in a leap of faith, Englefield Oil opened its first Duchess c-store in Lancaster, Ohio, in 1975.

Dubbed “A royal tradition since 1961,” Duchess operates 119 stores today throughout Ohio and West Virginia. Staying true to its roots as well as a commitment to evolve to better fit customers’ demands, the convenience retailer recently debuted a new flagship location.

The design process began about a year prior to any construction starting and all of Duchess’ future rebuilds and new-construction sites will mimic this 5,500 sq. ft. flagship model.  The bright and welcoming space features new brand elements, merchandising fixtures, and product selections for those on the go.

Elevating Duchess’ legacy store design, the New Albany flagship location pays homage to the company’s history and is also a nod to its future. While injecting the company’s family culture into the model, the newest Duchess store is modern, fresh and urban. It incorporates plants and photos to create a welcoming experience for customers.