Port Royal Mayor Samuel Murray, Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling, Beaufort School Board President Bill Evans and Port Royal Town Council members were all there, along with the leadership of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, to join Greg Parker (center) to officially open his company’s 35th store, Parker’s sixth in Beaufort County. 

Parker’s, the nationally-recognized convenience store leader, held the official Grand Opening recently of the company’s new store in Port Royal, SC located at 1705 Ribaut Road.  It is the company’s 35th store in the Georgia and South Carolina area. 

Surrounded by local dignitaries and the leadership of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce which hosted the event, Greg Parker, president and CEO of Parker’s, said, “Opening our sixth Parker’s in Beaufort county is very special for us. We’re excited to have moved into the northern part of the County as we continue to offer our loyal customers more locations to serve them.” 

“We were recently honored by the readers of The Island Packet daily newspaper as the ‘Best Convenience Store’ in the Hilton Head/Bluffton area, and we intend to bring that same level of superior customer service and products to the Port Royal and City of Beaufort local area,” he said.

“We also intend on lowering the price of gas in Northern Beaufort county just like we did in Bluffton.  Historically Beaufort and Port Royal have been 15 to 20 cents a gallon higher.  Watch what happens now that we are open,” Parker explained. 

He also announced today that the company plans to continue its expansion of stores in northern Beaufort County, with intentions to build four to five more stores which will result in approximately 50 new local jobs for the region.

“We look forward to being part of this community for many years to come, and to continue to invest in Beaufort County,” he stated.

Parker also discussed the company’s strong commitment to giving back to the communities in which it operates with the company’s nationally recognized Fueling the Community program. Parker’s donates tens of thousands of dollars annually to public and private schools.  Beaufort County school officials, which have received donations from the Parker companies thanks to existing customers in Beaufort County, were also on hand and were recognized by Parker. 

“On the first Wednesday of each month, one cent of every gallon of gas sold at Parker’s is set aside to donate to local schools. Best of all, our PumpPal members can designate which Beaufort County school they would like their donation to benefit. Please encourage your neighbors and friends to get a PumpPal card and become part of the Parker’s family so we can raise money for your local schools, Parker added. 

The modern convenience and fuel store features the latest in The Parker Company’s customer-friendly and high-quality store design and product display strategies, according to Brandon Hofmann, Parker’s Chief Marketing Officer.  Hofmann oversees in-store design, signage, aesthetics, product selection, merchandising and product placement in all of the company’s convenience stores and gourmet markets.

The almost $ 2 million store offers wide-open aisles, a 24-valve fountain for soft drinks with Chewy Ice;  12 fueling positions; attractive landscaping; and the beautiful tile bathrooms that are a Parker’s trademark and a favorite of Mom’s and families.

The Port Royal store will also feature Parker’s signature gourmet coffee bar with a selection of fresh milk and creamers, fresh-brewed sweet tea and ice cold lemonade.

For fuel customers, in addition to Parker’s standard line of regular, mid-grade and premium fuels which include 10% ethanol, the new store also offers diesel fuel and non-ethanol fuel – a favorite of boat owners.

“Non-ethanol fuel increases the efficiency of boat motors and extends motor life,” according to Amy Lane, Parker’s Chief Operating Officer.   The store parking lot design will provide marine customers towing boats with easy in and out access, she added.

For the company’s adult customers, the store will feature Parker’s well-known ‘Beer Cave’ which offers a wide-selection of domestic and imported beers kept at 28 degrees; and an extensive line of e-cigarettes. Parker’s also guarantees its adult customers interested in tobacco products “the absolute lowest cigarette carton prices,” in the area, according to Hofmann.