A short history
Sheetz traces its start to 1952, when Bob Sheetz took over one of his father's dairy stores in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The business grew through the 1960s and 70s as a small chain of convenience stores, and added gas pumps along the way. Sheetz is still family-owned and still headquartered in Altoona.
The company became known in the convenience-store industry for putting food at the center of the store. Sheetz was an early adopter of touchscreen ordering in the early 1990s, years before kiosks were common at fast-food chains, and that system became the MTO (made to order) menu.
What's inside a Sheetz store
- MTO kitchen: burgers, subs, wraps, quesadillas, pizza, fries and breakfast, ordered on a touchscreen and cooked to order 24 hours a day.
- Coffee bar: self-serve brewed coffee and made-to-order espresso drinks under the Sheetz Bros. Coffeez name.
- Cold drinks and snacks: fountain drinks, slush machines, coolers, candy and chips.
- Grab-and-go: packaged sandwiches, salads, fruit and bakery items.
- Fuel: regular, mid-grade, premium and, at many stores, Unleaded 88 and diesel.
- Extras at some stores: beer and wine, car washes, ATMs, EV charging and seating areas.
Why people like Sheetz
The main draw is choice and timing. You can get a custom burger, a breakfast burrito and a milkshake at 2 a.m., and the stores are clean, bright and easy to get in and out of. For road trips in the Mid-Atlantic, Sheetz is often the default stop.
Where to find Sheetz
Sheetz operates in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, and has expanded into Michigan. See our locations guide for more.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Sheetz?
Sheetz is a privately held, family-owned company. Members of the Sheetz family have led it since it was founded.
Is Sheetz a gas station or a restaurant?
Both. It's a convenience store with fuel pumps and a full made-to-order kitchen.
Is Sheetz publicly traded?
No. You can't buy Sheetz stock because the company is private.