The Wells County Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Casey's, located at 1020 North Main Street in Bluffton. Regional Director Scott Schneider, Store Manager Misty, district leadership, Casey's team members, Chamber Ambassadors, and community members gathered to celebrate the opening of the new store and officially welcome Casey's to the Wells County business community.
Although Casey's is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading convenience store chains, Schneider shared that the company is equally passionate about the food it serves. "Casey's is the third-largest convenience store chain in the United States, and we're the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States," Schneider said. "We look at ourselves as a pizza company that just so happens to sell gasoline."
Unlike many convenience stores, Casey's prepares its pizzas fresh every day. Dough is made by hand in each store, and pizzas are crafted using fresh ingredients in an open kitchen where customers can watch their meals being prepared. "Our focus is the kitchen," Schneider explained. "We make our pizza fresh every day. It's not frozen, and quality is very important to us."
Choosing Bluffton for a new location was no accident. Casey's has built its brand by investing in communities with fewer than 10,000 residents, believing that small towns are at the heart of its success. While the company continues to grow across the country, new store locations are carefully selected through a lengthy planning process.
"This store has been in the works for several years," Schneider said. "We don't build a lot of new stores, so we're very selective. We look for communities that are going to welcome us because we want to be part of the community." That sense of belonging is what drew Casey's to Bluffton. "What we see here in Bluffton is a solid, healthy community," Schneider shared. "It feels like a community you can call home, and for us, we're now part of that. When you come into the store, you'll even see Bluffton featured on our walls because we're proud to be part of this community."
Being a good community partner is a core value for Casey's. During the ribbon cutting, the company presented a donation to the United Way, one of many ways it gives back to the communities it serves. Casey's also supports education through its Cash for Classrooms program, which provides grants to schools, libraries, and community organizations for projects that enhance learning opportunities. Past grants have funded playgrounds, robotics equipment, technology upgrades, and many other educational initiatives.
Customers can also help support local schools through the Casey's Rewards app by donating their reward points to participating schools. Every contribution, large or small, helps create additional opportunities for students and educators.
Another program that demonstrates Casey's commitment to education is Class Act. Each store receives coupons for free slices of Casey's pizza that are distributed to local schools. Schools can use the coupons however they choose, whether it's rewarding good attendance, encouraging reading, recognizing academic achievement, or celebrating positive behavior.
Casey's also recognizes those who serve the community every day. First responders in uniform are invited to stop in and enjoy complimentary coffee or fountain beverages as a small gesture of appreciation for their dedication and service.
In addition to offering freshly made pizza, Casey's provides a wide variety of breakfast items, sandwiches, baked goods, snacks, beverages, grocery essentials, and fuel, making it a convenient stop for customers throughout the day. The Casey's Rewards app also allows customers to order ahead, earn points on purchases, redeem exclusive rewards, and support local schools through Cash for Classrooms.
Pictured celebrating the ribbon cutting are Regional Director Scott Schneider, Store Manager Misty Hunter, District Manager Dawn Eppard, Casey's team members, Wells County Chamber Ambassadors, community members, and Wells County Chamber staff.
Please view more photos from the event on our Facebook page.