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Zippy J’s has a new chapter planned for its hometown. The East Texas convenience store brand is preparing a $5 million construction project at 6911 Highway 42 North in Kilgore, an address already associated with its No. 8 store.
Plans call for a new 6,504-square-foot gas station and convenience store. For local drivers, the project puts a familiar Highway 42 stop in line for a significant investment. TDLR project filing
A Brand With Kilgore Roots
Zippy J’s story began in Kilgore in 1986, when the company opened its first community store. Forty years later, the brand’s latest plans bring the attention back to the city where it started.
Along the way, Zippy J’s expanded into a network of community stores and travel plazas across East Texas. The company describes its stores as locally owned and operated, serving everyone from daily commuters to travelers passing through town. Fuel, food, and everyday convenience remain central to that business. Zippy J’s company history
That hometown connection gives this project a little more meaning. Kilgore residents already know the name, and the Highway 42 address is already part of the company’s footprint.
What’s Planned on Highway 42?
The construction filing identifies the project as Zippy J’s Number 8. Meanwhile, both the company’s location directory and Exxon’s station listing place an existing No. 8 at the same address. Store directory · Exxon station listing
Together, those records suggest a new chapter for an established store site. However, the available information does not confirm whether the project will replace the current building or involve another arrangement on the property.
The listed scope covers a new gas station and convenience store. Details about food service, fuel pump counts, and other amenities have not yet been confirmed.
Construction Timeline
The registered schedule lists August 3, 2026, as the planned construction start and March 15, 2027, as the estimated completion date. Those dates describe the construction timeline; a public opening date remains unannounced. TDLR project filing
For Kilgore, the story is a familiar local name planning another investment in its hometown. With $5 million in proposed construction, Zippy J’s No. 8 is a Highway 42 project worth watching.