Arco/ampm

ampm is a convenience store chain that operates primarily alongside ARCO and BP fuel stations across the western United States. The stores focus on grab‑and‑go food, packaged drinks, snacks, and everyday essentials that serve both fuel customers and nearby neighborhoods. As of June 2024, there are roughly 1,000 ampm locations, with a concentration in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Arizona. Sites are typically positioned on busy commuter routes, arterial corners, and near freeway interchanges, where strong fuel volumes and steady daily traffic support the retail.

The brand was founded in 1978 as the convenience store arm of ARCO, growing in step with ARCO’s retail fuel network across the West. When BP acquired ARCO’s refining and marketing assets in 2000, ampm moved into BP’s broader retail portfolio and began to shift from basic kiosk-style offerings to larger stores with more robust food, coffee, and snack programs. Over time, the concept added proprietary hot food and fountain beverage lines and upgraded merchandising to compete more directly with national and regional convenience players rather than functioning only as a simple fuel accessory.

A major milestone came in 2012, when BP sold the ARCO retail marketing network and U.S. rights to the ARCO brand to Tesoro, now part of Marathon Petroleum, while keeping ownership of the ampm name and certain marketing territories. After that deal, some ARCO locations continued to feature ampm stores through franchise or supply arrangements, but BP retained control of the ampm brand itself and also linked it with BP‑branded fuel in select markets. This structure reinforced ampm’s role as a flexible banner that could sit on different fuel brands while still delivering a consistent retail offer.

As of June 2024, ampm’s footprint reflects BP’s wider strategy to expand its mobility and convenience business in North America. Growth is focused on higher‑performing retail formats and on making better use of existing ampm and BP‑branded sites in core western markets. Over roughly the last five years, the brand’s expansion pattern has been steady but selective, favoring infill along major commuter corridors and densification around established ARCO distribution in California and nearby states. Most new development is tied to fuel‑anchored pads on visible intersections and highway exits, along with targeted redevelopments where older stations are being rebuilt with updated store layouts and food and beverage programs.

The chain operates under a mix of ownership and dealer structures, with many locations run by independent operators under supply or branding agreements. For landlords, developers, and brokers, ampm brings a recognizable, traffic‑driving convenience format, typically supported by high fuel throughput and repeat daily visits. The brand’s long operating history, association with BP, and ongoing investor and operator interest in ARCO ampm sites in California help support continued deal activity and a functioning transaction market for properties under the banner.