Maggie’s Is Reimagining the Gas Station—with Soft Serve, Matcha, and “Treat Yourself” Energy
Maggie's Refuel is aiming to redefine the gas station experience by integrating high-quality food and beverage offerings with a focus on customer service and ambiance.
Alex Canter, the fourth-generation operator behind L.A.’s iconic Canter’s Deli and the co-founder of Nextbite, is back with his boldest concept yet: a high-end, food-forward convenience store chain called Maggie’s Refuel. And he just raised $2 million in pre-seed funding to bring it to life.
Named after his bulldog mix, Maggie’s aims to flip the script on what a gas station experience can be. Think Autogrill meets 7-Eleven Japan—except in Los Angeles. Canter envisions a place where you can fuel your car and also treat yourself to curated snacks, locally made pastries, or even an elevated soft-serve cone.
“We see an opportunity to create something that’s very exciting—something that people will want to go in and discover new treats and treat themselves,” Canter told CSP Daily News.
A Curated C-Store That Doesn’t Pretend
The concept balances indulgence with approachability. Yes, there will be matcha and niche CPG brands, but also a dedicated “classics” section featuring Diet Coke, Peanut M&M’s, and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Canter isn’t trying to gentrify the convenience store—he’s trying to elevate it.
Instead of building in-house kitchens, Maggie’s will partner with local bakeries to source high-quality bagels, croissants, and other fresh items. This keeps labor light and quality high—a lesson Canter took to heart from watching Foxtrot’s rapid rise and crash.
“They grew too fast, too quickly and had big, expensive buildouts… We’re learning from that,” he said.
A Built-In Foot Traffic Strategy
Unlike many retail startups that struggle with foot traffic, Maggie’s has a secret weapon: gas stations. Canter plans to convert existing fuel stations into ~2,000-square-foot Maggie’s locations. With hundreds of cars already stopping daily, the foot traffic is baked in.
Select sites may also include EV chargers, signaling a future-forward twist. Canter is still finalizing the first location, which is set to open in Los Angeles in late 2026. He plans to saturate the L.A. market before looking at other West Coast cities.
Backed by Industry Giants
Maggie’s early backers include Matchstick Ventures, Mucker Capital, and Everywhere Ventures, and the advisory team reads like a who’s who of convenience and coffee:
Jim Keyes, former President & CEO of 7-Eleven
Meredith Sandland, EVP of Development at Starbucks
With a seasoned team and a focused rollout strategy, Maggie’s isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. It’s trying to be the place you actually want to stop at.
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