Strategic Expansion: Acee’s Debuts Innovative Mini Travel Center in Fulton, Kentucky

Executive Summary: A New Standard for Roadside Retail

Golightly & Long has officially marked a significant milestone in its corporate trajectory with the opening of its ninth Acee’s convenience store location in Fulton, Kentucky. Representing a departure from the company’s traditional footprint, this 7,300-square-foot facility serves as the brand’s inaugural "mini travel center." Strategically positioned on the Tennessee border along the evolving Interstate 69 corridor, the site replaces a long-shuttered Holiday Inn, transforming a defunct property into a high-traffic hub designed to capture the growing volume of interstate transit.

The store, which held its soft opening on May 12 followed by a formal grand opening celebration in August, was meticulously crafted in partnership with Paragon Solutions, a premier retail design and branding firm. By integrating professional foodservice, dedicated logistics for heavy-duty trucking, and a sophisticated, customer-centric layout, Acee’s is signaling its intent to compete at a higher tier of the convenience retail market.

Chronology: From Demolition to Destination

The journey to the Fulton location was far from linear. Nathan Long, president of Golightly & Long, had identified the potential of the real estate well before the transaction was finalized. The site, once a Holiday Inn, had fallen into disrepair before being purchased by a local resident who sought to improve the visual landscape of the area by razing the structure.

"I had actually looked at it a while before we bought it," Long noted, reflecting on the site’s turbulent history. "A local retired guy bought it and dozed it down just because he didn’t like the looks of it. Long story short, I ended up getting together with him, buying it from him, and finishing out the demo."

Following the demolition and site preparation, the construction phase—spearheaded by Paragon Solutions—focused on maximizing the utility of the plot. Given the constraints of the land, the project team had to innovate to provide a travel-center experience without the sprawling acreage typically associated with major interstate stops. The resulting facility is a testament to architectural efficiency, balancing the needs of local commuters with those of long-haul truckers.

Supporting Data: Architectural and Operational Design

The Fulton location is a significant scale-up for Golightly & Long. While the company’s previous eight locations range from 4,300 to 5,500 square feet, the 7,300-square-foot Fulton store provides the necessary room to accommodate a dual-customer base.

Infrastructure for Modern Travel

The design team utilized a "flow-centric" approach. The layout separates heavy vehicle traffic from passenger vehicles to ensure safety and convenience. Key infrastructure features include:

• Logistics: A dedicated truck entrance leading to 27 secure parking spaces located at the rear of the property.
• Amenities: On-site showers and laundry facilities, addressing the essential needs of professional drivers.
• Fueling: A diesel canopy positioned in close proximity to the main building to facilitate quick access for long-haulers.

"We didn’t have enough land to make it as large as we probably would want for a diesel presentation, but working with Paragon, I think the layout worked out as efficiently as it can," Long explained. "The truck traffic comes in from the back, passenger cars park on one side and in front, and all that foot traffic flows into an ‘X’ configuration where our frontline folks can see the customer and monitor everything in the store."

Interior Aesthetics and Customer Experience

The interior design moves away from the traditional "cluttered" convenience store aesthetic, opting for a clean, modern look. The palette utilizes a signature red-and-navy Acee’s scheme, complemented by wood-look porcelain tile flooring and high-end dimensional signage.

The foodservice segment is the crown jewel of the interior. By anchoring the store with three distinct food brands—AC’s Chicken Fingers, Crazy Italian Pizza, and Quiznos—the store functions more like a food court than a traditional gas station. The "AC’s Chicken Fingers" brand, developed by Paragon, was specifically designed to provide a "franchise-level" polish that instills confidence in interstate travelers who might be unfamiliar with the local brand.

Official Responses and Strategic Philosophy

The success of the Fulton store is largely attributed to the synergy between layout and service. According to Long, the company’s internal metrics have already exceeded projections, particularly in food sales.

"On the interstate, we want the food to look like a franchise, and it does," said Long. "Combined with the Quiznos, we’re already way ahead of our pro forma on food sales. The layout, the seating, and having food menus visible from the cashier line are what’s driving that."

Embracing Technology

The store employs a "blended" service model. Customers can order at front registers or utilize self-order kiosks within the food area. A self-checkout station is strategically placed near the main sales counter, providing a frictionless experience for time-pressed customers without removing the human element of service.

"We’re not pushing customers to it. We still want plenty of customer service reps on the counter," Long clarified. "But it’s right there when you’re approaching the line, and in this store, it really gets used. A lot of that is just the layout and not having people cramped up."

The "Community Driven" Ethos

Despite the shift toward serving interstate travelers, Acee’s remains deeply rooted in its local identity. The brand’s refresh—featuring the phrase "Community Driven" within its logo badge—is supported by tangible corporate actions. The company maintains a "give-back pump" program that has donated to local organizations for two decades, with a current waiting list for partnerships extending 18 months.

"We’re the hangout spot after school," Long said. "We’re the morning spot for farmers and people who are retired. Some of our customers come in wearing our hats and shirts, and you couldn’t tell them apart from an employee."

Implications for the Future of the I-69 Corridor

The opening of this location serves as a bellwether for the development of the I-69 corridor. While the majority of current traffic originates from within a 20-mile radius, the company is positioning itself for a long-term shift in demographics. As the former Purchase Parkway completes its transition into a major interstate, the store is expected to see a significant uptick in transient, high-velocity travelers.

Performance Outlook

Currently, the store is meeting or exceeding all business plan expectations, with the sole exceptions being fuel and beer—categories that are common for new sites as they build local habituation. The company’s success in balancing high-end finishes, such as touchless, doorless restroom entries, with operational efficiency suggests a scalable model for future growth.

For Golightly & Long, the Fulton site is more than just a ninth location; it is a proof-of-concept for the "mini travel center" format. By proving that a mid-sized footprint can offer the same level of service and polish as a national truck stop chain, the company has created a blueprint that will likely influence its future acquisitions and builds as it expands its footprint along the evolving American highway system. The company’s ability to foster deep community loyalty while simultaneously capturing the transient interstate market positions Acee’s as a formidable player in the regional convenience retail sector.