Magiford World: Kwik Trip
- Kitty
- Mar 5
- 2 min read
In Gate of Myth and Power, I mention the gas station/convenience store "Kwik Trip," which is a Wisconsin franchise with a cult following and I realized with the final audiobook releasing later this month it would be a great chance to talk about this place more. (Note that there is an unrelated brand of stores called QuikTrip that aren't based in Wisconsin.)
Unlike a typical gas station Kwik Trip focuses on offering a wide variety of grocery items, and some of the buildings are so large they are more like small grocery stores that happen to have a gas station. They also have a wide variety of lunch-like deli items you can purchase that are reasonably fresh so many people will stop to just get food and not even bother to gas up their vehicles.
And of course they have cheap coffee (including flavored coffees) that you can purchase in extra large size which is why Leila paid them a visit. And lots of good donuts and treats too!
Here's a photo of an actual Kwik Trip donut display:
Why is Kwik Trip so popular?
Speaking as a Wisconsin resident I know from experience that the Kwik Trip gas stations tend to be cleaner (both outside and inside) than the average gas station. And they always have a free air pump in the parking lot that actually works!
They are also located everywhere in Wisconsin at this point and it's pretty common to find two of them across from each other at busy intersections, which has added to their popularity.
The company also has an over-the-top social media presence, and it's easy to find hilarious videos about them on social media. Beyond that, the cult like following of this chain is something else, and it's not that rare for average customers to do their own Kwik Trip social media posts such as wedding couples showing up for a quick photo shoot (no I'm not kidding!).
What gas stations/convenience stores are unique to your region?
I'm from Texas and Buc-ee's is definitely a "big deal" (personally, I don't get all the hype, so I've never been in one). But we also have CircleK and QuikTrip. But if I'm traveling and have to stop for a bathroom break, my preferred gas station is Love's. They are a combination gas station/truck stop. They're usually cleaner than the average gas station and also have a wide variety of items for sale - though the selection is probably more touristy than grocery.
We have a Bucees near where I live in AL, but recently we have had a lot of Circle K gas stations pop up. Circle K has a special club you can join for free and get any size fountain drink for $.79. My kids now ask regularly if we can stop at Circle K for a drink or slushie.
In the west we have Maverick gas stations. They're not quite like a Kwik Trip or a Buc-ees but they're headed that way. Some of the bigger ones even have a small playground and/or a picnic table. And they'll have a cleaner bathroom than most place's.
Definitely Buc-ee's. They are mainly in Texas and not as ubiquitous as Kwik Trip in Wisconsin, but they are massive. They are located on major highways and advertise themselves on billboards sometimes over 200 miles away.
From what you said, it sounds like a Buc-ee's in the South. (Buc-ee's is my favorite gas station, ridiculous as it may sound to have one.)