RaceTrac's Ohio land purchases exceed $13 million; Columbus-area location looms
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A Georgia-based convenience store and gas station chain is buying up Ohio land for future locations ahead of the brand's long-awaited Columbus-area debut.
RaceTrac has purchased various central Ohio properties totaling at least $13.3 million, county auditor's office records show. Along with a 10-acre site near Rickenbacker International Airport at 2555 London Groveport Road acquired in March for an undisclosed amount, the chain has bought the following land:
16.5-acre site at 30 Rathmell Road for $6.2 million in June 2024.
3.7-acre site along Winchester Pike for $2.1 million in February 2025.
2.4-acre site along U.S. 23 in Circleville for $2.85 million in May 2025.
Now open: New restaurants, businesses in central Ohio in June 2025
The acquisitions come as RaceTrac is constructing its first central Ohio location in Delaware at 2201 State Route 37 East, a 5.3-acre site purchased for $2.2 million in November 2023. The chain received final approval from the city's planning commission in February and, once completed, it will mark RaceTrac's second in the state after the first opened last December in Findlay.
'RaceTrac is firmly committed to expanding its reach in Ohio following the successful opening of our first store in Findlay,' a spokesperson said in a statement. 'We are not yet ready to announce our next opening, but we look forward to doing so soon and are still committed to growing throughout the state for years to come.'
The Delaware gas station has been in development for several years, having received unanimous support from city council in August 2023 when it was believed the State Route 37 store could be Ohio's first. The planning commission joked during the February meeting that 'RaceTrac obviously doesn't build as fast as Sheetz,' with one member referring to the chain as 'SlowTrac.'
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Plans call for RaceTrac's Delaware footprint to include a 6,008-square-foot convenience store accompanied by eight traditional fueling islands, diesel fueling islands and 34 parking spaces. When the chain introduced the proposal in early 2023, a spokesperson said 'RaceTrac believes [central Ohio's] diverse population, along with the growth in commuting and mobile workplaces, is a natural fit for its stores.'
RaceTrac has been operating since 1934 and has grown to more than 580 locations across states like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas. Each storefront is stocked with beverages, snacks, Swirl World frozen desserts, coffee and more.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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