‘Spending Time’: Lafayette draws big-name gas stations, but they’re not what they used to be
Lafayette, Indiana, January 29, 2025 – A trip to the gas station isn’t quite what it used to be. In 2025, it’s become a destination of sorts.
Few things have changed about gassing up, unless you’re looking all the way back to 1973, when Indiana legalized self-service fuel stations. But the business around gas stations has sure changed.
Tiffany Cring, director of marketing for Leo’s Market and Eatery, said that for the Greenfield, Ind.-based gas and eatery chain, the opportunity to fill up your car is just an added convenience to fueling your body.
“It’s a one-stop shop,” Cring said. “With the eatery, we have something special to offer. It’s always a hurdle getting people past the pumps and into the doors, but what we are offering is something really unique.”
Leo’s celebrated its official opening here on Jan. 9, just seven months after news broke of its expansion from the Greater Indianapolis market into the Lafayette area. Before the end of summer, Wawa, the east coast gas station chain, had filed a permit to build Lafayette’s first location just a little over a mile east of Leo’s along South Street.
Gas stations, both of simple and destination-based concepts, continue to pop up around Greater Lafayette, with more planned in 2025. But what is it about Lafayette that draws developers of these businesses? And will we ever reach capacity?
As it turns out, big money is to be made in the fuel station business, and there’s still money lying on Greater Lafayette’s table.
A metro area of Indianapolis, developers say
When Leo’s began scouting for property to expand their location portfolio, Cring said the company started by looking at cities similar to Indianapolis.
“We review sites all of the time, and we get requests from cities to review property that have expressed they want a Leo’s,” Cring said. “The people of Lafayette have really embraced us. They are very active on social media, and our pages have gained a ton of new followers. Their engagement with Leo’s has been really exciting.”
A commercial real estate broker, who asked not to be named because of competing project deals in the works, said Lafayette’s similarities to Indianapolis are what draw national chains and businesses.
A lot of the draw comes down to loyalty, he said.
“Lafayette is a chain town, and it’s big enough that it can support competing chains, and that’s part of what brought in Raising Cane’s,” he said. “Developers like to see loyalty, and when you look at Lafayette, it has great sales volume from a lot of different retail groups. Having a large school like Purdue is absolutely a draw for a lot of these businesses, too.”
What holds back certain developers, however, the broker said, is the lack of available land.
“A lot of places only want to build on State Road 26, and there are a few that have been waiting for years to get in here,” he said. “There are some chains that require a certain acreage in order to build, and it’s a competitive market.”
Having experience with brokering several chain restaurant deals, the broker said he’s heard feedback that opening weeks for new business locations along Indiana 26 have been the best in a chain’s history.
In about 90 days, a new gas station is born
The cost to build a gas station is hardly anything to blink at, either. Leo’s Market and Eatery came at a price tag of $5 million, according to permits filed with the city of Lafayette.
The estimated cost for each Wawa location, permits show, is $2.2 million.
A good chunk of that price tag comes from the cost associated with installing fuel tanks, fuel lines, dispensers and canopies over the pumps. Jamie Dahmen, general manager at Oscar Larson, a general contracting company specializing in petroleum services, said that depending on the size of the fuel station’s operation, it could cost $1 million to $2 million.
But there some locations are pending, according to permits, that are estimated to be less than $1 million. A newly opened Marathon gas station, located at 3029 Old Romney Road, came at a price tag of $598,319, permit reports show.
But at 3829 Indiana 38 E., home to the long-shuttered Kyger Bakery, a permit filed for construction of a new gas station and convenience store shows an expected cost of $750,000 for the new build.
Lafayette isn’t alone in the never-ending pop-up of gas stations, either. The commercial broker said large companies are looking at any city within an 80-mile radius of Indianapolis, including Kokomo, Bloomington, Bartersville and Greenwood.
For Terry Bussell, a contractor with Jim Allen Maintenance out of Muncie, said he installs the equipment needed for new gas stations daily. Having completed the work for the new Leo’s location, Bussell said he’s worked on about four other gas station builds in the Lafayette area.
The fuel tanks for a gas station come with a 30-year warranty, Bussell said, with most lasting well beyond that time frame before a new one needs installed. Although Bussell said he mostly works on new construction, he has worked on several tank replacement projects as well.
But what happens to a shuttered gas station? The commercial broker said the cost to remove an old tank from the ground of a property that isn’t set to be a gas station can be costly, though he couldn’t provide a ball-park price.
On example is the former gas station at 1930 S. Fourth St., which is on the smaller side for a station of today’s proportions.
“The traffic that site sees probably wouldn’t be viable for a new gas station to come in, and its size makes things more difficult,” he said. “To a developer, looking at that just doesn’t appeal as a good investment opportunity.”
Fueling an experience, as well as your car
When customers are drawn in past the gas pumps at Leo’s, for instance, they’re greeted by two counters and an array of options.
Sure, there’s your bottled beverages and candy, but there are aisles and sections devoted to just groceries, too. Colorful displays of fresh produce, like fruit, bell peppers, heads of lettuce and baskets of mushrooms await customers, while a wall section of the coolers features a variety of dairy products and chilled goods.
Cring said much like the convenience of gas, Leo’s is known for the convenience of fresh dinner ingredients, too.
“I had a customer tell me about how his wife sent him to the store for feta cheese, and he by chance stopped into a Leo’s on his way to the store and we had it, which saved him another trip,” Cring said. “We have a lot of items that you would typically find in a farmer’s market, and we partner with local vendors to carry those products, too.”
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Cring said Leo’s offers the convenience of fresh flowers produced by a local florist alongside an array of greeting cards and gifts.
While Wawa’s two Lafayette locations are still under construction, the chain is known for its custom breakfast sandwiches and hoagies.
Cring said she can understand the nostalgia of a Wawa, a gas station often sought by travelers while vacationing around the east coast and Florida. You’ll be able to find a sandwich inside a Leo’s, too, but Cring said customers will find Leo’s is much more than that.
“We have two executive chefs on our team who come out with new menu items and kolache flavors every month, but this isn’t someplace that does wrapped sandwiches or roller dogs,” Cring said. “Alongside single serve salads and pasta bowls, we offer full size family meals that are grab and go. A lot of these are similar to the subscription dinner kits people have mailed to them, but ours are much more visually appealing, and they’re made fresh daily.”
If customers want to see a product in a Leo’s location, Cring said they’ll make it happen. Since opening earlier this month, Cring said the Lafayette community has shown its love for the store’s concept, and the company has taken notice.
“We just have been so taken aback by the great feedback and the amount of new followers we’ve accumulated from the Lafayette area,” Cring said. “The people here in Lafayette are so active and engaged, and you don’t necessarily see that everywhere.”
Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal and Courier. She can be reached via email at [email protected].
Leo’s Market and Eatery to open in Lafayette, offering fresh meals, groceries and gas
Lafayette, Indiana, June 10, 2024 – By the end of 2024, Lafayette will see the opening of a Leo’s Market and Eatery along South Street, offering an array of fresh meal options and groceries alongside the convenience of a gas station.
According to building permit reports filed with the city of Lafayette, the market and gas station will cost roughly $5 million to construct.
Tiffany Cring, director of marketing for Leo’s Market and Eatery, said the opening of the 7,100 square feet Lafayette location, which is to be built at 3431 South St., will be the first location for the group outside of the Greater Indianapolis area. The company’s goal is to open the new store by the end of November, Cring said, given no delays occur during construction.
Opening their first location in Greenfield in 2019, Leo’s Market and Eatery was founded by siblings Keith White & Stephanie White-Longworth, previous owners of GasAmerica Services before its sale to Marathon. The siblings named their new food and fuel business after their late father, Richard Leo White.
Cring said Leo’s Market and Eatery is completely focused a customer convenience, offering freshly made single and family size meals alongside basic groceries competitively priced to major chain grocery stores. With an executive chef on staff, Cring said their menu’s are constructed and change quarterly with dishes and pastries made freshly in house.
While Leo’s Market and Eatery also sells gas, Cring said that isn’t the sole focus of the business, but rather an additional convenience offered to customers, alongside an extensive rewards program and monthly customer events.
“Once people get into the store, they can’t believe how much stuff we have to offer in here,” Cring said. “Leo’s really is like a one-stop-shop.”
One of the things Leo’s Market and Eatery prides itself on, Cring said, is building connections in their communities, offering fundraising opportunities and giving back to local nonprofits and area schools.
“We already feel so welcomed by the community and are very excited to expand our footprint in such an amazing area,” Cring said.
Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal and Courier. She can be reached via email at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @ellison_writes.
Leo’s Employees Donate Pay to Help Those in Need
Greenfield, Indiana, December 23, 2023 – Leo’s Market and Eatery is in the ‘market’ of giving back in a big way to all the communities within which their stores reside. Just in time for Christmas, employees of all four respective Leo’s donated portions of their paychecks to an organization near and dear to their hearts within their local communities. In total, $5,642 went to a not-for-profit of each store team’s choosing in Greenfield, McCordsville, Noblesville, Indianapolis, and Leo’s (and Pride Investment Partners) corporate office. Pictured below, the Leo’s Corporate Office (and Pride Investment Partners) team present a check in the amount of $3,920 to the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen.
We Have a Winner! – Giving Thanks for Filling Tanks!
Greenfield, Indiana, December 20, 2023 – And the winner is…Kyle R.! Congratulations on being the lucky winner of our $500 Gas Giveaway – Leo’s Gives Thanks for Filling Tanks! Kyle proudly accepted his $500 giftcard for $500 in FREE fuel to be used whenever he wishes, earlier this week. He was so excited and thrilled exclaiming, “I cannot believe it! Thank you Leo’s, this is awesome!”
Kyle has been shopping and filling up at Leo’s in Greenfield since it opened in 2019. Thank you to everyone who participated and stay tuned for upcoming promotions!
Leo’s is Giving Thanks for Filling Tanks!
Greenfield, Indiana, November 6, 2023 – We are giving thanks in a BIG way to our customers this November. Going on now through November 30th, every gas purchase with a registered Leo’s Rewards card will earn customers an entry into a chance to win $500 in FREE GAS! One lucky Leo’s Rewards card holder will be drawn at random the first week of December.
“We are grateful for our customers, and this is just one of the ways we plan to show our gratitude for their loyal patronage this holiday season, said Tiffany Cring, Leo’s Brand Marketing Director. Our ‘Giving Thanks for Filling Tanks’ gas giveaway is the perfect way to kick off the season of giving!”
To participate, all you need is a registered Leo’s Rewards card. Getting a card is easy; and registering it is even easier. Drop by any local Leo’s location and pick up your card, then go online to yourleos.com/rewards/ to quickly register. You can also register your card in the Leo’s Rewards App. Once registered, you will begin earning points on any fuel, market, and eatery purchase(s). Every time you go to the pump, use your Leo’s Rewards card, fuel up (no minimum or maximum spend is required), and you will earn an entry into the promotion. The more times you get fuel, the more entries you get; and the more chances you have to win the $500 gas giveaway. So roar in and get fuel-ed up! Gobble! Gobble!
White Family Donates $50,000 to Local Community Non-Profits
Greenfield, Indiana, August 21, 2023 – It’s a family tradition! The White family, owners of Leo’s Market and Eatery, love giving back and did so in a BIG way to 13 Hancock County-based community non-profit organizations. Each year, two generations of the White family review grant applications. Individual members then do site visits before reporting back and voting as a group. The family’s objective is to support initiatives that enhance the desire to ‘live, work and play’ in Shirley and nearby surrounding communities in Hancock County, Indiana where the White family calls home.
This is the 11th year the family-based fund has granted monetary awards to local organizations. The grants have historically totaled $25,000 annually, however this year that amount was generously increased to $50,000 thanks to an exclusive financial contribution/match from Pride Investment Partners, the White family’s primary business interest (founders of Leo’s Market and Eatery) located in Greenfield, Indiana. Pride is owned by brother and sister duo, Keith White and Stephanie White-Longworth, and holds investments in a variety of areas throughout the Midwest including hotels, strip centers, and retail stores; as well as residential and commercial real estate. Their latest venture includes opening four Leo’s Market and Eatery locations in Greenfield, Noblesville, McCordsville, and Indianapolis. The family is deeply committed to maintaining a strong emphasis on philanthropy in the localities where they reside and conduct business. They prioritize making a constructive influence their foremost concern. “We believe in giving back to the communities that support us. It’s not just something we promise to do; it’s at the heart of what we stand for,” said Stephanie White-Longworth, President of Pride Investment Partners, Leo’s Market and Eatery, and White Family Foundation Chairwoman. 2023 grants were awarded to the following:
Leo’s to Host Grand Opening Event Celebration!
Indianapolis, Indiana, April 21, 2023 – To celebrate the newest store location on Indy’s Southside, Leo’s will hold a Grand Opening Event Celebration on May 17, 2023 from 2pm to 7pm. The event, at 6009 S. Emerson Avenue, will feature a variety of activities including a plethora of FREE samples, unbelievable giveaways, entertainment, amazing deals, and more! Do not miss your chance to check out the newest store being celebrated in a BIG way! Enjoy BOGO cookies and brownies from 2pm to 4pm, $7 Family Size Soups from 3pm to 5pm and BOGO Kolaches from 5pm to 7pm. Leo the Lion and the rest of the Leo’s Market and Eatery family look forward to seeing you there!
Leo’s Opens Indy Southside Location!
Indianapolis, Indiana, April 2023 – Leo’s Market and Eatery is experiencing exponential growth and recently opened its fourth convenience market, fueling and chef-inspired eatery on Indy’s Southside at the corner of Emerson and Edgewood Avenues.
You can ‘fill-up’ at Leo’s, however not on gasoline alone. Leo’s uniquely combines the best features of a convenience store and a local grocery store with an always-fresh eatery. Leo’s aims to provide convenience for families trying to make healthy choices with limited time. The focus of the store and its employees is to help each customer “conquer their day.” The 7,500 sq. ft. store footprint allows for ample room for the market to showcase its fresh produce, breads, cheeses, a wide selection of beverages and fresh-ground, bean-to-cup coffee. In the eatery, Leo’s chef offers freshly prepared bakery items including Leo’s signature Kolaches – a type of pastry stuffed or topped with sweet or savory filling; as well as, the eatery’s highly customizable salad, pasta and potato bowls, and popular house-made soups.
Leo’s offers special deals via its loyalty rewards program and is dedicated to ‘giving back’ to each community within which it resides; Leo’s Indy Southside location will be NO different.
Leo’s Employees Donate a Portion of Their Pay to 3 Local Charities
Greenfield, Indiana, December 30, 2022 – Leo’s Market and Eatery is in the ‘market’ of giving back in a big way to all the communities within which their store locations reside. Just before the Holidays, employees of all three respective Leo’s Market and Eateries donated portions of their paychecks to an organization in need within their local community. In total, nearly $3,500 went to a not-for-profit of each store team’s choosing in Greenfield, McCordsville and Noblesville.
Leo’s Greenfield presented a check to Talitha Koum Women’s Recovery House for $1,763 (pictured left). Talitha Koum offers a recovery program for women 18 years and older who desire to live free from addiction providing them with a safe, family-like environment to rebuild their lives and learn how to live sober.
The Leo’s McCordsville team presented Geist Montessori Academy with a check for $1,148 (pictured right). Geist Montessori is a tuition-free, public charter pre-k to eighth grade school that provides academics infused with character building and community awareness to develop the whole-child and prepare students for life.
| “We are so grateful for the generosity and kindness displayed by the Leo’s Market and Eatery staff. The corporation offers a matching program for employees to donate to an organization of their collaborative choosing, and they chose us! Thank you, Leo’s!” – Geist Montessori Academy |
The employees of Leo’s in Noblesville raised $513 for the Boys and Girls Club of Noblesville (pictured right). The Boys and Girls Club provides opportunities for youth to enjoy activities and experiences that shape character and enriches lives.
Employees donate a dollar amount of their choosing from each paycheck to be donated to charity two times annually. Those donated funds are then matched by Leo’s parent company, Pride Investment Partners, and then donated to the organization via a special ceremonial check presentation. Since opening its first location in 2019, Leo’s has given over $35,000 in monetary donations and gifts in the communities within which it operates (Greenfield, McCordsville and Noblesville).
Leo’s Proudly Honors Veterans with Dine to Donates Benefiting Indy Honor Flight
Greenfield, Indiana, November 9, 2022 – Leo’s Market and Eatery, a subsidiary of Pride Investment Partners, with locations in Greenfield, McCordsville, and Noblesville, proudly honored all veterans this past Veterans Day with free coffee and free cookies all day long. In addition, Leo’s partnered with Indy Honor Flight, a non-profit organization which honors Indiana’s veterans for their service and sacrifice, by hosting a Dine to Donate at all three Leo’s locations from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 20% of all Leo’s Eatery proceeds went directly to support Indy Honor Flight which transports WWII, Korea and Vietnam service men and women veterans on a no-cost, one-day trip of a lifetime or ‘Honor Flight’ to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor.
“We have always worked to give back to the communities where we operate, which give so much to us,” said Leo’s Market and Eatery president Stephanie White-Longworth. “Supporting our veterans, our heroes, is indeed a soft spot for us. We are grateful for our veterans’ service and sacrifices and beyond proud to have the opportunity to show our appreciation on Veterans Day.”
Leo’s Market and Eatery hosts monthly Dine to Donate events in its eateries, during which 20 percent of proceeds are donated to the organizations represented. The business also provides regular donations to community nonprofits and gifts to a variety of local organizations. Since opening its first location in 2019, Leo’s has given over $35,000 in monetary donations and gifts in the communities within which it operates (Greenfield, McCordsville and Noblesville).
Leo’s Market and Eatery to Open 3rd Location in McCordsville, Indiana
McCordsville, Indiana, October 2021 – Leo’s Market & Eatery recently began construction on its third store; expected to employ about 40 people and slated to open in early 2022 in McCordsville, Indiana. The 7,200-square-foot hybrid grocery and eatery, located at the intersection of County Road 900 North and Olio Road, will join Leo’s flagship location in Greenfield and its Noblesville store which successfully opened in 2020.
You can fuel-up at Leo’s, however not on gasoline alone. Leo’s uniquely combines the best features of a convenience store and a local grocery store with an always-fresh eatery. Leo’s aims to provide convenience for families trying to make healthy choices with limited time. The focus of the store and its employees is to help each customer conquer their day. The large store footprint allows ample room for the market to showcase its fresh produce, breads, cheeses, a wide selection of beverages and fresh-ground bean-to-cup coffee. In the eatery, Executive Chef Matt Chappell offers freshly prepared bakery items, including Leo’s signature kolaches – a type of pastry stuffed or topped with sweet or savory filling — as well as the eatery’s highly customizable Power Bowls, salads, and popular house-made soups.
“Leo’s is not your typical ‘convenience store.’ We pride ourselves on providing chef-inspired meals and sandwiches made-to-order at our eatery with that quick and convenient factor still there; even offering a drive-thru option for those on the go. Not only can you get made-to-order food, but you can also pick up market items like milk, fresh produce, or a bouquet of flowers without having to get out of your car,” said Stephanie White-Longworth, President of Leo’s Market and Eatery.
Leo’s offers special deals every week via its rewards program, weekly food tastings of its products, and is dedicated to ‘giving back’ to each community within it resides; and McCordsville will be no different. One of the core values of the company is to give back; an effort bolstered by a paycheck contribution program matched by the company and dine-to-donate events held monthly which benefit local nonprofit organizations.
You can read more about the new McCordsville Leo’s as featured in the Indianapolis Star:
Leo’s Market and Eatery Highlighted in “USA Today – Go Escape Midwest Special Edition” Article
Leo’s Market and Eatery was featured in the “Go Escape Midwest 2021” section of the “USA Today – Special Edition”.
Leo’s Market and Eatery Donates $4000 to Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen Endowment Match
April 28, 2021 – GREENFIELD, INDIANA
Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen kicks off its Feed the Future campaign May 1, an effort to grow its financial bedrock to maintain its mission of providing hot meals to those in need. The soup kitchen currently holds an endowment of $75,000 through the Hancock County Community Foundation and aims to raise an additional $25,000 during the campaign, which ends Dec. 31, 2021.
Leo’s Market and Eatery is one of four groups or families to donate dollar-for-dollar matching funds in advance of the Feed the Future campaign, to help make sure the organization gets to its $100,000 goal.
Leo’s stepped up to support the soup kitchen because it is an integral part of the Hancock County community, said Stephanie White-Longworth, president of Leo’s Market and Eatery.
“The soup kitchen is an amazing organization that we are proud to be able to support,” she said. “The volunteers and staff who prepare those meals and care for everyone who comes through the door are a blessing to the community, and one of Leo’s Market and Eatery’s core values is to give back to the communities we operate in.”
Leo’s Market and Eatery has contributed to the soup kitchen in the past, including donations of kolaches to the kitchen’s pantry, White-Longworth said.
The soup kitchen, which opened its doors in December 2008, faced unique challenges last year through the pandemic, said director Jill Ebbert. Social distancing restrictions forced the kitchen at 202 E. Main St. in Greenfield to move to takeout only. The organization adapted, building a tent within the building to allow clients to pick up their meals in a warm area instead of standing outside through the winter months, Ebbert said.
Despite the limitations imposed by protecting clients, volunteers and staff from COVID-19, the kitchen in 2020 provided 23,491 hot meals, an 18 percent increase from 2019, Ebbert said.
And with the soup kitchen facing shortfalls from canceled events, the community stepped up in a big way, making generous donations that gave the organization its best financial year since its inception, she said.
“It was the right time to build on our endowment,” she said. “We are extremely grateful to the donors who are matching the funds, because with their help, we are hoping to surpass that $100,000 goal.”
Leo’s Market and Eatery Employees Donate $5800 to Local Nonprofits
Leo’s Market and Eatery employees donated $5800 to two local nonprofits. The employees were given the opportunity to vote on which two nonprofits they would like to have their donations (matched by parent company, Pride Investment Partners) go towards. The two nonprofits chosen were: The Landing Place and Mental Health Partners of Hancock County. Each received $2900. Read more about the donations here:
Leo’s Market and Eatery Coming to Noblesville
The Indianapolis Star featured our store in the local news section for Hamilton County and Noblesville. You can see the article here:
Leo’s is Expanding!
We are excited to announce two new locations are in the works for 2021.
Leo’s Market and Eatery
Corner of Meridian and US 40
Greenfield, Indiana
(Breaking ground – October 15, 2018)
Pride Investment Partners is excited to announce the ground breaking of a new retail concept called Leo’s Market and Eatery. The first of its kind location will be located along US 40 in Greenfield on the Northwest corner of Meridian Road. This unique concept will combine the best features of your local market and convenience store with an always fresh Eatery.
The project is the latest endeavor of Keith White & Stephanie White-Longworth, the previous principals of GasAmerica Services. The naming of the location as Leo’s is in honor of their late father Richard Leo White.
Executive Chef Matt Chappell, plans to feature freshly prepared bakery items, as well as made to order power bowls and desserts. The Eatery will offer a wide variety of options for diners in addition to many take-home meal options. Leo’s relaxed and modern atmosphere will have a dedicated space for diners inside as well as outdoor patio seating.
The large store footprint will allow plenty of room for the Market to feature fresh produce, breads, cheeses, a wide selection of beverages and ground fresh bean to cup coffee. A drive thru option servicing both the Eatery and the Market will make your visit even more convenient.
Construction will begin this month with the store opening anticipated to be in the spring of 2019.
Stephanie White-Longworth, Partner and President of Pride Investment Partners, “We are excited to bring this new concept to Greenfield. It is our goal to provide the ultimate in convenience for our customers at competitive prices in a pleasant and easy shopping environment. Leo’s Market and Eatery will allow us to offer a broad selection of fresh, delicious and healthy products alongside the basic need items of fuel, dairy, snacks and other grocery. We look forward to earning our customers business in addition to enhancing the community we live and operate in.”
Are coming to McCordsville? We love Leo’s and would love it even more if we did not have to drive from Geist.
Yes, we are coming to McCordsville area – hopefully next year!