Pilot recently completed renovations to its convenience store located at 3004 E. Magnolia Ave., which has been a fixture in the East Knoxville community for 27 years.
Originally constructed in 1984, the Pilot store now features an additional 250-square-feet of retail space, a new checkout counter and a new walk-in cooler. The store remained open to the public throughout the renovations, which were completed by the end of May.
“Our Pilot location on Magnolia has served the community for more than a quarter-century,” said Dan Fleming, vice president of operations for Pilot. “We’ve really enjoyed being part of the East Knoxville community, and we’re thrilled to give this location a facelift and add new, modern amenities to better serve our loyal customers.”
The remodel of the Magnolia Avenue location included the addition of a new 16-head soda fountain machine and new state-of-the-art Bunn coffee brewers and cappuccino machines along with many additions to the ICEE headquarters.
Pilot also recently added high-speed fuel pumps that provide faster flow so customers can refuel quickly. The new pumps feature Pay-at-the-Pump equipment as well for customer convenience.
As always, the Magnolia Avenue store will offer an ATM; Western Union; lottery and Lotto tickets; Dippin Donuts made fresh daily; an expanded deli with Oscar Mayer 100 percent all-beef hot dogs; and low prices on Mayfield’s Milk, Merita Autumn Grain Bread and more. Pilot offers eight varieties of gourmet coffees, including Pilot’s house coffee, which was named the ‘Best Coffee on the Interstate’ by the readers of Truckers News.
Larry Rhea, general manager of the Magnolia Avenue Pilot, has worked at the store since 1987. An additional four store employees have worked there for more than 15 years including Carrie McMahan, who has been serving the community at the Magnolia Avenue Pilot since 1985.
“We’re very proud of the renovations to the store,” Rhea said. “We’re invested in this community, and our loyal customers are like friends and family to the employees at our store. We’re looking forward to continuing to serve this neighborhood in true Pilot spirit for many years to come.”
