A new CU convenience store in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo-gu, Yeoido-dong, opened its doors recently, marking the chain’s first two-story flagship under the ‘Running Station’ concept tailored for runners. Spanning 32 pyeong (about 106 square meters), the store integrates post-run recovery options, community spaces, and specialized products to cater to the growing running population.
Ground Floor: Essential Runner Support
The first floor features a post-run washing station with a water fountain, alongside energy gels, vitamins, protein drinks, daily-use towels, and car seat cleaners. Diverse running nutrition products, including energy gels and bitamins, attract runners seeking convenient recovery solutions in a compact public space.
Second Floor: Rest and Community Hub
Upstairs, rest areas combine with showers and community facilities to create a running culture space. Photo zones with stylish hurdles and podiums encourage sharing, while collaborations with Tatui Kiosk and sports brands enhance the experience.
Data-Driven Expansion Strategy
CU pursues running-specialized stores based on data reflecting the surge in running enthusiasts. Pilot ‘Running Stations’ in Yeoido, Banpo, and Jamsil boosted related sales by over 20%. The chain plans to convert 18 stores across major areas like Mapo, Gangnam, Yeoido, Banpo, Jamsil, and Deoksom into Running Stations, forming a nationwide running hub network.
Part of Broader Store Transformations
This initiative aligns with CU’s aggressive store overhaul since late 2023. Notable examples include the ‘Ramen Library’ concept store in a high-density foreign resident area, offering ramen libraries with covered takeout tables for compact integration into ramen hotspots. CU expands this model nationwide.
In 2024, the second Incheon Airport terminal hosted a ‘Snack & Ramen Library’ drawing crowds with large-scale snacks. Myeongdong’s store strengthens appeal to foreign tourists via K-food staples, four-language in-house and outdoor displays, souvenir cards, and kiosks.
Additionally, a Seongsu-dong digital store introduced the ‘CU Seongsu Digital Package Store’ with open-type e-aisles, Huiping Crime dispensers, and a ‘DIY Zone’ for toppings, emphasizing self-service innovation.
Focus on Mid-Sized Transformations
CU drives growth through mid-sized store conversions, targeting over-30-pyeong locations for experiential upgrades, special merchandise, and foot traffic marketing to elevate sales. Over three years, it operated 1,924 stores (975 in 2023, 696 in 2024, 253 in 2025), newly opening around 1,300 while reorganizing 1,000 unnecessary ones and closing 300.
Newly renovated stores show average sales 6.4% higher than existing ones in 2024, according to internal data.
A CU representative stated, “Store operations have fully shifted to customer-centric growth, with transformations yielding significant sales gains.” The representative added, “CU’s specialized stores go beyond formats by doubling as experiential spaces that transform merchandise value.”
