In-N-Out's Tennessee expansion rolls on with new Clarksville site. October 3, 2026 In-N-Out Burger has purchased the former Quality Inn Exit 4 property at 3095 Wilma Rudolph Boulevard in Clarksville, paving the way for a new restaurant and additional retail development. More Eat & Drink News The 6.26-acre site sits near Interstate 24 at Exit 4, one of Clarksville's busiest commercial corridors. In-N-Out plans to develop a new restaurant on the property, along with space for two future restaurant or retail establishments. The property previously operated as the 143-room Quality Inn Exit 4, a full-service hotel with high visibility along Wilma Rudolph Boulevard and easy access to I-24. Brandt Niehaus, principal broker with Huff, Niehaus & Associates, represented the seller in the transaction. "This was a unique opportunity to transition a well-established hotel property into a significant new commercial development," Niehaus said in a release. "The Quality Inn's location at Exit 4, with its excellent visibility and accessibility, made it an exceptional redevelopment site." Niehaus said the sale reflects continued demand for strategically located commercial real estate in Clarksville, which remains one of Tennessee's fastest-growing markets. A timeline for construction or an opening date for the new In-N-Out location has not yet been announced.

Costco overtakes H-EB as top retail brand. Costco has overtaken H-E-B as the top retail brand in ChangeUp's 2026 Experience Report, marking the first time the warehouse retailer has led the rankings. How the rankings work. ChangeUp surveyed over 6,500 consumers across 300 brands, collecting more than 400,000 data points through surveys and AI-driven sentiment analysis of reviews and online discussions. Brands were assessed on eight dimensions: memorability, perceived staleness, likelihood of return, unprompted visit desire, customer advocacy, novelty, substitutability, and relevance. Costco improved in all eight categories, outperforming the retail average, while H-E-B's scores remained flat. In restaurants, In-N-Out Burger retained its top spot for the second year, followed by Texas Roadhouse. Chick-fil-A and Playa Bowls also stood out by turning unique elements into signature experiences that drive repeat visits. Emerging brands like Dutch Bros and Buc-ee's gained traction by making the in-store experience itself a draw. Grocers dominate, but discretionary retail lags. Grocery and club retailers occupy five of the top 10 retail spots, with Sam's Club (#7), Wegmans (#8), and Publix (#10) rounding out the list behind Costco and H-E-B. Wegmans, new to this year's study, was praised for its food selection, prepared meals, and staffing depth that attracts shoppers willing to travel. Publix earned recognition for service, including associates who assist with finding products and carrying bags. Convenience stores like Buc-ee's (#9) and Kwik Trip (#11) also rank highly, with the report noting that these brands turn the act of stopping into the primary reason for the visit. Meanwhile, discretionary categories such as apparel saw declines in customer satisfaction, suggesting that essential shopping trips hold steady while optional ones face growing competition. Other notable retailers in the Top 50 include Trader Joe's (#15), Harris Teeter (#17), and Aldi (#38), each cited for specific strengths, whether it's product variety, affordability, or operational efficiency.

Costco unseats H-E-B atop ChangeUp's 2nd Experience Report. Share via: Costco has taken the No. 1 spot among retail brands in ChangeUp's 2026 Experience Report, displacing last year's leader H-E-B, which moved to No. 2. The Dayton, Ohio-based brand strategy and retail design agency's second annual report ranks the Top 50 retail and Top 50 restaurant brands by how strongly their physical experiences resonate with customers. In restaurants, In-N-Out held the top spot for the second consecutive year, followed by Texas Roadhouse. ChangeUp surveyed more than 6,500 consumers on more than 300 brands, capturing more than 400,000 data points through survey research and AI-powered sentiment analysis of consumer reviews and online conversations. Brands were evaluated on eight dimensions of experience: memorability, staleness, return intent, unprompted visit desire, advocacy, novelty, substitutability and relevance. New this year, retail and restaurant rankings are separated, with each category measured against its own competitive set. "Consumers are still willing to spend on experience, but as people become more selective, every trip now carries more expectation," said Lee Carpenter, CEO of ChangeUp. "They're taking fewer trips and asking more of the ones they make. The brands leading the rankings are giving people something that is harder to replace, along with a reason to make the trip, and a reason to remember it." Key findings. * Costco ranks No. 1 in retail, unseating H-E-B; it was one of the few brands to improve measurably this year, scoring above the retail average on all eight dimensions, while H-E-B held steady. * In-N-Out repeats at No. 1 in restaurants, with Texas Roadhouse at No. 2; Chick-fil-A and Playa Bowls also stand out for turning distinctive elements into signature experiences. * Emerging brands including Playa Bowls, Dutch Bros and Buc-ee's are creating enough pull to earn a trip, the report found. * The report examines how pickup, delivery and curbside are changing the role of the physical store, and what brands can do to make the visit worth choosing. * The strongest brands perform on multiple dimensions rather than excelling at just one. Grocers throughout the rankings. Grocery and club retailers dominate the retail list, claiming five of the top 10 spots. Behind Costco and H-E-B, Sam's Club ranks No. 7, Wegmans No. 8 and Publix No. 10, with Wegmans, new to the study this year, cited for range, prepared food and staffing deep enough that shoppers bypass other grocers and cross county lines, and Publix recognized for service, with associates who take customers to the shelf and carry bags out. Other food retailers in the Top 50 include Trader Joe's (No. 15), Harris Teeter (No. 17), Giant Eagle (No. 26), ShopRite (No. 31), Food Lion (No. 35), Kroger (No. 37), Aldi (No. 38), Meijer (No. 40) and Stop & Shop (No. 46). Convenience players Buc-ee's (No. 9) and Kwik Trip (No. 11) also crack the upper ranks, with the report crediting both for making the stop itself the reason to go. The report notes that grocery and mass - "the trips people cannot skip" - held their experience steady while discretionary categories like apparel slipped, and that the strongest leaders, including Costco, H-E-B and Fleet Feet, score well on nearly every dimension rather than spiking on one. "What we're seeing in the data is that a brand can do everything it did last year and still lose ground because the experiences around it are getting better," Carpenter said. "Staying relevant requires more than protecting what already works. Brands have to keep finding ways to give people a reason to choose them." ChangeUp's client work has included Chick-fil-A, Bath & Body Works, Kia, The Vitamin Shoppe, bp and Panera Bread. For more grocery news, view its grocery news page. The Shelby Report delivers complete grocery news and supermarket insights nationwide through the distribution of five monthly regional print and digital editions. Serving the retail food trade since 1967,... More by Shelby Team