As consumer behavior continues to shift toward convenience integrated into everyday life, a new retail category is emerging: residential embedded convenience retail. This session explores how convenience operators can rethink traditional assumptions around traffic patterns, customer engagement, and retail placement by operating inside multifamily, mixed-use, student housing, and master-planned communities. Using real-world operational insights from Urban Value Corner Store, attendees will gain practical insight into: embedded convenience behavior, amenity-based retail operations, autonomous SMART Cooler deployment, and the future evolution of convenience retail inside residential ecosystems.
CEO/Founder
Urban Value Corner Store
Steve McKinley is the Founder and CEO of Urban Value Corner Store, a fast-growing retail concept redefining convenience within multifamily communities. Since opening the first location in McKinney, Texas, in 2019, Steve has expanded the brand to 12…
Expanding your store count comes with big decisions. This session explores the pros and cons of acquisitions, new builds, and remodels, along with insights on financing, market research, cultural fit, and finding the right opportunities. Attendees will also hear real-world lessons learned from operators on what happens after the deal closes and how to set a growth strategy up for long-term success.
CEO & President
This session will showcase key findings from the NACS Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council’s latest study on trip drivers in convenience retail. Attendees will gain insight into what motivates consumers to visit stores, what influences purchase decisions, and how these behaviors are evolving. The discussion will highlight actionable strategies retailers can use to better align with shopper needs and increase trip frequency and basket size. Walk away with a clearer understanding of how to turn insights into in-store execution that drives growth.
As more convenience retailers expand beyond traditional store formats, travel centers are emerging as a major growth opportunity. In this session, industry leaders will explore why brands are investing in larger travel center formats and what it takes to operate them successfully. From staffing and capital investment to trucker loyalty, parking, safety, and expanded services, attendees will gain practical insights and lessons learned for retailers considering their own move into the travel center space.