Kum & Go sells 5 central Iowa stores; Circle K breaks into Des Moines market

Circle K, a Canadian-owned convenience store chain, is breaking into the Des Moines market.

Known for its Polar Pop cups, Froster slushies and drinks for under $1, the store is moving into the former Kum & Go at 3501 EP True Parkway in West Des Moines.

This comes after Kum & Go sold five of its central Iowa stores at the end of 2018 to IM & AY LLC, based out of Plano, Texas, said Ariel Rubin, spokesperson for Kum & Go. The West Des Moines store, along with two in Perry and two in Boone, was sold to the company.

Kum & Go employees at the sold stores were allowed to either transfer to another location or stay with the new owners, Rubin said. 

While Circle K is primarily located in southern and western parts of the United States, it's currently growing in the Midwestern market and operates stores in most states. It is already in eastern Iowa, with stores in Burlington, Clinton and Muscatine.

In West Des Moines, the convenience store portion of the gas station remained open as transitions were made to the building.

Besides Kum & Go, QuikTrip is also closing one of its Des Moines' stores and selling four of its other metro locations.

Circle K did not return calls to the Register.