Thorntons

Thorntons is a privately held convenience store and fuel retailer with a long-established presence across the Midwest and Southeast. The company operates modern convenience stores that combine fuel, grab-and-go food, snacks, beverages, and everyday essentials in high-traffic locations. As of December 2025, Thorntons operates approximately 190 locations, with a concentration in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee and continued growth into surrounding markets.

Founded in 1971, Thorntons started as a regional fuel and convenience operator and has grown steadily over more than five decades into a recognizable name in the sector. Over the past five years, the company has focused on updating and expanding its store formats, emphasizing fresh and prepared foods, improved merchandising, and a cleaner, more efficient in-store experience. At the same time, Thorntons has invested in technology, including digital loyalty programs, mobile engagement, and site enhancements that help drive repeat visits and higher spend.

A notable recent milestone was the 2021 launch of its Pro Driver Refreshing Rewards program, which built on Thorntons’ existing loyalty platform to better serve professional drivers. This initiative has helped deepen customer relationships in a key segment and reinforced the brand’s reputation among frequent users of its network. The company also continues to be active in local communities through store-level support of neighborhood events and charitable efforts, which helps anchor sites within their trade areas.

From a footprint perspective, Thorntons is in an expansion posture, actively seeking new locations and redevelopment opportunities as it grows its network in the Midwest and Southeast. The brand’s focus on strategic, high-visibility sites, along with its track record of operating both fuel-forward and convenience-focused formats, makes it a relevant consideration for corridor retail, highway, and neighborhood centers. Its scale, as of December 2025, and its history of steady evolution give landlords, brokers, and developers a tenant with recognizable branding, consistent traffic generation, and a long-term operating outlook in core regional markets.

Thorntons remains independently owned and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, which supports a relatively quick decision-making process and a direct relationship with its real estate team as the company pursues new ground-up builds, relocations, and selective infill growth.