New Cumberland Farms Opens in Coventry

Company and local officials were on hand for a ribbon cutting at the new Cumberland Farms on New London Turnpike in Coventry on Thursday.

The new store offers hot dogs, pizza, fried favorites along with everything else you’d expect to find at a local Cumberland Farms, or Cumby’s, as it is referred to by many.

Along with showcasing the new concept for the brand, the grand opening marks the kickoff for a month-long fundraiser that benefits Hopkins Hill Elementary School.

Through the fundraiser, 10 cents of every dispensed beverage bought at the Coventry location will be donated directly to the school.

So what’s different with the new concept? There is a big emphasis on hot and prepared foods. Forget about 9-hour-old franks tumbling endlessly on a hot dog warmer. The company is hoping that increasing the quality and variety of the menu (yes, a menu) will generate more sales at single-store locations. The margin for gasoline sales is slim and competition is fierce. And the typical non-redesigned store relies heavily on tobacco sales and relying too much on tobacco sales is a risky proposition as more and more smokers quit and die.

So along with hot dogs, there will be mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, pizza, coffee, a substantial fountain drink section and the Chill Zone, which aims to give 7-Eleven’s Slurpee a run for its money.

Cumberland Farms began in 1939 in Rhode Island. The now-Massachusetts-based company now has 50 stores in Rhode Island.

The company plans to remodel all of its stores over time.

The new Coventry store is located at 2293 New London Turnpike in Coventry.