Kangaroo Express conversion to Circle K begins this week in Myrtle Beach

The kangaroo is hopping off signs across Horry and Georgetown counties, a literal sign that the former Kangaroo Express convenience stores have been replaced by Circle K.

Alimentation Couche-Tard, the parent company of Circle K based in Quebec, purchased the Kangaroo Express chain including 300 stores in South Carolina in March 2015.

The transformation and rebranding of the stores across the Southeast began this week in Myrtle Beach -- old signs will be removed over the next month and new ones will begin popping up at 44 locations across the Grand Strand.

“We think this market has a lot of growth opportunity,” Will Rice, vice president of the Circle K South Atlantic business unit, said of the company’s decision to begin the rebranding effort in Myrtle Beach.

The stores are being completely remodeled beginning with the location at 4408 Highway 501, and in the next few months the transformation will spread to Charleston and across the region.

Some traditions will continue, like the ROO cups that patrons can purchase for about $10 and refill for 25 cents.

“The Myrtle Beach market is a very important market in the South Atlantic business unit,” Rice said. “It’s more for us than a new sign exercise, it’s a launch of a new global brand.”

“So we’re putting our best foot forward here,” Rice said. “It was a unique opportunity to get this label up here first.”

None of the stores will be closed during the transformation, and Rice said there will be no layoffs of the nearly 400 employees in Horry and Georgetown counties.

“We’re not making an investment to shrink business,” Rice said. “Business is growing -- it’s more opportunity.”

Audrey Hudson 843-444-1765; Twitter @AudreyHudson

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Kangaroo Express conversion to Circle K begins this week in Myrtle Beach."