#FlashbackFriday: The Year the Exchange Got Into the Convenience Store Game

This week’s Express seminar made Flashback Friday curious about the roots of the Express, which took us back to the ’70s and the beginnings of the Shoppette.

On June 28, 1974, the ribbon was cut on a Shoppette (pictured above) at Fort Devens, near the New England Area Exchange. It was one of five test stores, “similar in design and scope of service to the neighborhood stores proven popular in civilian communities.”

The Fort Devens Shoppette offered dairy and grocery items, school supplies, magazines, books, greeting cards, pet supplies and a small selection of hardware. Neighborhood children were among those gathered in the parking lot for the opening. (Fort Devens is now part of the Hanscom Air Force Base Exchange in Massachusetts.)

From that handful of test sites, the convenience store concept grew into what is now known as the Express. Most Expresses around the world are similar to convenience stores in the private sector. Many also feature quick-service restaurants and gas pumps.

In 2021, Expresses achieved $1.55 billion in retail sales. In case you missed it, this By the Numbers video shown at this week’s seminar will give you an idea of how far the Exchange’s convenience-store business has come from those five test stores in the early ’70s.

Sources: Exchange Post archive, Exchange history Flickr.