Apparently, it's not enough for an investment giant like Blackstone to rake in millions by flipping skyscrapers like pancakes—now they're starting to collect the loose change in your pocket when you stop for a cup of Joe at a highway rest stop.

Blackstone Infrastructure Partners acquired a majority stake in the Irish gas station and convenience store chain Applegreen at the end of 2020 when Applegreen went private in an $878M deal that left the Dublin-based company's founders with a 41% share.

Shortly after the deal closed, Applegreen was able to leverage its financial backing from Blackstone to submit the winning bid for a high-profile contract to operate 27 rest stops on the NY State Thruway. Some big bucks were need to seal the winning deal: Applegreen and its partners are picking up the entire tab for a $450M redevelopment of the rest stops on NY's primary transportation artery.