DUNELLEN — The convenience store that grew from its first location in Central Jersey to 147 locations in New Jersey and New York is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a series of in-store and online specials over the next 10 weeks.

"We are thrilled to celebrate 50 years of meeting the needs of our customers. While we opened the very first QuickChek store on March 15, 1967, we feel our customers deserve more than a one-day celebration," QuickChek CEO Dean Durling said in a statement.

Durling said the chain will offer specials and deals both in stores and on its mobile app, including free coffee and fountain drinks, and special deals on subs, snack foods, and smoothies.

The first offers, good through Sunday, Feb. 26, include buy one, get one (BOGO) smoothies and 50-cent NutriGrain bars in QuickChek stores. On the app, customers can claim BOGO potato bowls or Gold Peak Tea, and a free buttered roll with a large chili or soup.

QuickChek currently operates 135 locations in New Jersey, mostly in the northeastern part of the state but as far north as Wantage, as far west as Phillipsburg, and as far south as Bayville. Four new stores are set to open this year in the Garden State, in Bayonne, Brick, Hanover, and North Brunswick.

QuickChek through the years in New Jersey:

  • 1888 — Durling Farms opens, the forerunner to QuickChek, offering delivery of milk and dairy products
  • 1967 — The first QuickChek location opens in Dunellen
  • 1976 — Sub sandwiches are first sold
  • 1980 — First in-store pharmacy opens in Ewing
  • 1992 — QuickChek officially pledges to make fresh coffee every 20 minutes
  • 1993 — QuickChek begins sponsorship of the annual Festival of Ballooning in Readington
  • 2000 — QuickChek's first gas station opens in West Amwell
  • 2001 — ATMs come to all store locations
  • 2006 — Touchscreen ordering introduced
  • 2015 — QuickChek app is first offered for download
  • 2016 — Named Convenience Store Chain of the Year by the industry publication Convenience Store Decisions

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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