Circle K became the first business in Sun City to be open 24 hours when it opened a convenience market in the early-1970s at 12440 N. 103rd Ave., just south of Grand Avenue.
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Yesterday and Today
Sun City’s 24-hour store now an auto shop
Posted
Former Circle K, now R&J Automotive 12440 N. 103rd Ave. Sun City, AZ
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By Bret McKeand
Circle K became the first business in Sun City to be open 24 hours when it opened a convenience market in the early-1970s at 12440 N. 103rd Ave., just south of Grand Avenue.
Even in the early-1970s, Sun City was still considered somewhat isolated from the metropolitan Phoenix area and the nearest grocery store open after midnight was many miles away. The opening of the Circle K served to fill that void.
As neighboring cities grew and eventually surrounded Sun City, the need for a 24-hour convenience store within the boundaries of Sun City slowly diminished. Within a decade, Circle K would close the store and leave the community, though the company returned eventually with stores at 9848 W. Bell Road and 18610 N. 107th Ave.
Over the years the original building would be home to a variety of businesses that included a packing and shipping store and used-car sales lot. Today it is home to R&J Automotive.