CU turns abandoned gas stations into convenience stores with new upcycling model

Convenience store chain CU announced Tuesday that it has launched "CU Re:fuel," an urban regeneration store model that upcycles shuttered gas stations into convenience stores.

The concept reuses existing gas station structures — signage, canopies and parking lots — to significantly cut the time and cost of store development while reviving idle sites as lifestyle hubs for local residents and drivers. According to the Korea National Oil Corp., gas stations across the country have been closing at a rate of 100 to 200 per year since 2010. Because former gas stations typically sit along major roads, they offer easy access and ample parking.

The first CU Re:fuel location, the Soheul IC store, opened at a key junction linking Pocheon in Gyeonggi Province to downtown Uijeongbu and a nearby expressway. The site spans about 429 square meters, with a two-story store occupying 125 square meters. The ground floor carries standard convenience store products alongside bulk items, while the second floor features a lounge with recliner seating, a ramyun library and a self-serve ramyun cooking station.

In the two weeks since opening, the Soheul IC store has posted an average transaction value roughly 20 percent higher than nearby conventional CU stores. Made-to-order smoothies and instant ramyun have proven especially popular.

CU said it plans to explore additional Re:fuel openings, focusing on sites with strong location appeal, commercial potential and high land-use efficiency. "Going forward, CU will move beyond conventional store formats, developing new store models that make creative use of diverse spaces to expand our touchpoints with customers," said Park Jeong-gwon, head of BGF Retail's operations support division.