RaceTrac is preparing to expand into Central Ohio, with a new location planned at 5811 Gender Road in Canal Winchester, according to the Columbus Business Journal.
The Atlanta-based convenience store and fuel retailer plans to open later this year, marking one of the company’s first locations in the Columbus-area market. The new store will feature RaceTrac’s mid-size format and is expected to serve local motorists as well as professional drivers and larger vehicles.
The Canal Winchester location will include diesel fuel, along with RaceTrac’s typical selection of grab-and-go food, beverages and convenience items. The company operates more than 600 stores across multiple states and has been expanding its presence beyond its traditional markets.
RaceTrac’s Central Ohio expansion includes another planned location at 2 Commerce Parkway in West Jefferson, which will use a larger travel-center format designed to accommodate commercial truck traffic. That location is expected to feature high-flow diesel pumps, diesel exhaust fluid and a CAT scale.
The Canal Winchester project is already reflected in Ohio permitting records. RaceTrac Inc. is listed as the applicant for the property, with construction plans that include a new fuel-dispensing canopy and a one-story convenience store. The project has an estimated valuation of approximately $4.5 million.
The company has pointed to the continued growth of the Columbus region as a key factor in its decision to expand into Central Ohio.
“We believe the momentum and strong growth that the Columbus area is already experiencing makes it a natural fit for our stores,” RaceTrac said, according to the Columbus Business Journal.
The Canal Winchester location is part of a broader Central Ohio expansion for RaceTrac. The company has also acquired or pursued additional development sites in the region, including properties in Delaware, Columbus, near Rickenbacker International Airport and Circleville.
The company was founded in 1934 and has grown into a major convenience-store and fuel retailer, offering food, beverages, fuel and other convenience products. RaceTrac locations generally employ between 20 and 40 team members, depending on the store format.
The new RaceTrac at 5811 Gender Road is expected to open later in 2026, bringing another national convenience and fuel retailer to the growing Canal Winchester area.
