New “QT” in CLT’s Destination District
Fuels Convenience for Commuters and Passengers
It’s quick, it’s convenient and it’s an important milestone!
QuikTrip is the first customer-facing business to open within Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s (CLT) broader Destination District West. The new convenience store, located near Interstate-485 and Wilkinson Boulevard, opened to the public on April 24, following an official ribbon-cutting celebration one day earlier.
It’s a significant step as CLT looks to land more consumer-type businesses near the airport to fill a market gap and meet increasing demand from commuters, airline passengers and rental car customers.
“The opening of QuikTrip is an exciting addition, enhancing the overall value and experience at the Airport campus,” said CLT Chief Executive Officer Haley Gentry. “It brings much-needed convenience to our travelers, employees and neighbors – and sets the tone for even more amenities to come at the Airport’s front door.”
More Than a Gas Station
The “QT” franchise, which bills itself as “More Than A Gas Station,” is a convenience store and gas retailer open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This will be one of the Tulsa, OK-based company’s larger highway fueling stations, featuring an extensive section of truck fueling facilities separate from passenger-operated vehicle fueling.
It is known for its self-serve fountain drink station, coffee bar, beloved QuikTrip hot dog and an assortment of other made-fresh-to-order food, including pizza, barbeque, sandwiches and soft pretzels.
QT joins the recently developed Amazon Fulfillment Center at 8000 Tuckaseegee Road and Best Buy Distribution at 8737 Todd Road in the Destination District West.
Destination District Looks to Grow
CLT’s Destination District is split into three larger areas—West, Central and East. The Central District, spanning 40 acres at the Airport's front entrance, is located near Wilkinson Boulevard and North Josh Birmingham Parkway, directly opposite the iconic CLT “Crown.”
Crosland Southeast was selected in 2024 to help develop the Central District. However, the process started nearly a decade ago with a market analysis to identify what types of businesses were interested in locating around the Airport.
According to CLT Commercial and Community Engagement Director Stuart Hair, it found opportunities for industrial and an unrealized demand for commercial services. “One of the opportunities we identified is for a conference center hotel that has 250-300 rooms so that you can have those two days of meetings with a couple hundred attendees,” said Hair. “There’s a real opportunity for that, we’ve heard that loud and clear.”
“The thing I am most excited about is interest from the top-tier quick service restaurants – brands most of the public is probably familiar with,” added Hair. “No contracts have been signed yet, but the conversations have occurred, and that demand exists today. We think it is going to take the hotels and quick service restaurants coming to fruition before we get sit-down restaurants. I am optimistic we will have a deal this calendar year.”
Non-Aeronautical Revenue Generator
CLT Airport's overall property spans 6,000 acres. Two thousand of those acres, purchased over the past twenty years, can be developed since they are not needed for aeronautical activity. This generates non-aeronautical revenue and helps meet the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for Airport self-sufficiency.
The new QuikTrip location is expected to generate $16.7 million in rental income revenue for CLT over the 15-year contract, which has options to extend to 49 years.
While QT may be one of the first businesses to open in the broader Destination District, it certainly will not be the last, and it will further diversify CLT’s real estate portfolio.