ARKO Opens Remodeled Apple Market with fas craves Food Concept in Hazard

At 108 East Main Street in downtown Hazard, the remodeled Apple Market opened to customers on February 16, 2026, bringing ARKO Corp.’s fas craves food concept to the city and marking what the company calls “the fourth fas craves remodel, following two earlier new‑to‑industry openings, bringing the total number of fas crave locations to six nationwide.” ARKO (Nasdaq: ARKO), identified by the company as a Fortune 500 convenience‑store operator, positioned the Hazard site as part of a broader push to make food central to its retail mix.

The store’s interior and exterior were refreshed with upgraded food and beverage equipment, modern digital menu boards, enhanced lighting and an improved layout designed to speed guest flow, the company said. Photographic captions supplied with the announcement referenced the Apple Market Store Front, fas craves and fas REWARDS signage, a selection of Grab‑n‑Go food and dispensed beverages, and the updated store interior.

The fas craves menu at Hazard covers hot and cold Grab‑n‑Go items, roller grill favorites featuring Nathan’s® Hot Dogs, bakery offerings and dispensed beverages. Company materials list popular food items by name: breakfast sandwiches, crispy chicken biscuits, potato wedges, mozzarella sticks, jumbo chicken wings, the Ultimate Chicken Tender, Tyson® chicken sandwiches and Pub burgers.

ARKO has rolled out value-priced meal deals “since January,” offering $3, $4, $5 and $6 options in stores that sell hot and cold grab‑and‑go food, a tactic the company describes as a central element of its meal deal strategy. Arie Kotler, identified as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Arko Corp., summarized the approach: “Our customers are looking for delicious, relevant and satisfying meals at prices they can feel good about. With our new meal deal strategy, we are delivering real value, real choice and real convenience across every daypart. These offers strengthen our position as a foodservice destination and reinforce our commitment to providing great-tasting food at an incredible value.”

The Hazard Apple Market also ties food promotions to fuel incentives through ARKO’s Fueling America’s Future program. fas REWARDS® loyalty members can “save up to $2.50 off per gallon by purchasing participating products and entering their phone number at the pump to watch savings stack up,” a promotional mechanic ARKO highlighted to coincide with America’s 250th birthday celebration. The company did not publish a participant list or campaign end date for the pump savings.

ARKO says it plans to “expand fas craves across ARKO’s national network,” signaling continued investment in foodservice at convenience sites; after the Hazard opening, the company reports six fas craves locations nationwide. A grand opening celebration for the Hazard store is planned for early spring and will include special promotions and community-focused events, with specific dates and partners to be announced.

By locating a food‑heavy, value-oriented concept on Main Street, ARKO is betting fas craves and stacked fuel discounts will draw both quick‑service meals and fill‑up traffic in Hazard, a strategy that could reshape local convenience retailing and competitive promotions in Perry County.