QuickStop Building 'Relationship with the People'

Bob Patel said QuickStop's mission is simple.

"We want to build up our relationship with the people in the town," said Patel, a partner of the store's Bergen County-based ownership. "A nice relationship. That's it. We're going to respect them. And I hope they're going to respect us also."

QuickStop opened around 6 p.m. Tuesday night, soon after on Hopatchung Road after the convenience store chain couldn't reach an agreement on rent after its lease with its landlord, The Heller Group, expired last month, Quick Chek Vice President of Sales and Marketing John Schaninger said. Quick Chek has a second Hopatcong location on Lakeside Boulevard.

Patel said the group jumped on the opportunity to purchase the location when they heard it was for sale.

"We just want to serve the people in Hopatcong," he said.

Patel said the ownership group is from India and operates several Krauszers Food Stores in Bergen County. He also said QuickStop's goal is as simple as its mission—to offer services similar to Quick Chek.

Patel said QuickStop plans to stay open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He also said the owners bought the rest of Quick Chek's stock, but will soon stock its own shelves.

QuickStop has offered employment—at the same dollar-per-hour rate—to former employees of the Quick Chek's Hopatchung Road location, Patel said. Schaninger said Quick Chek would also offer the employees jobs at its other locations.

Patel said QuickStop is not a franchise.