Love’s Travel Stops: New business helps ‘road warriors’

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Truck drivers and other “road warriors” have a new business to help them fuel up and get back on the road. Members of the Muscatine business community helped welcome that new business – Love’s Travel Stops – to the community on Thursday, Jan. 19, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Greater […]

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Truck drivers and other “road warriors” have a new business to help them fuel up and get back on the road. Members of the Muscatine business community helped welcome that new business – Love’s Travel Stops – to the community on Thursday, Jan. 19, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The event, which brought together more than 50 people, featured the ribbon-cutting, words of praise for the new business and tours of Love’s Travel Stops at 2417 Grandview Ave., Muscatine.

“This really means a lot to us,” said Brad Bark, president of the Muscatine Chamber. “This will help build up the south end of town. … It’s great to have them here.” Another chamber member called the new business another great resource for truckers, travelers and the entire community. “I drive by this area all the time. It’s just a great addition to this area,” said Megan Francis, marketing and communications director of the nonprofit group Crossroads, Inc. The new Love’s Travel Stops opened on Dec. 15 with about 50 employees. It is about a $16 million investment, said General Manager Matt Swisher.

During Thursday’s welcoming ceremonies, several Love’s officials said the company has grown from a small business to a national company with 600 locations in 42 states. But they added that their top priorities have remained the same: take care of the customers and their employees. Tom Hallick, a Love’s district manager, told the crowd that he tells the employees this: “If you take care of the customers, we will take care of you.” He added that the company continues to grow, adding 25 to 35 new stores a year. “I love your small business story. … You have grown into a cool, successful business,” said Mr. Bark. After Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mr. Swisher and other business officials gave tours of the new Love’s Travel Stops. It includes everything from snacks, gift cards, neck pillows, blankets to pizza and chicken. Two of its main food features include Godfather’s Pizza and Chester’s Chicken. “Our Chester’s is doing very, very well. Everybody in town loves Chester,” Mr. Swisher told the business leaders who took the tour.

Other features of the new business include:

• More than 9,000 square feet.
• 29 truck parking spaces.
• 56 car parking spaces.
• Five diesel bays.
• Four showers.
• Laundry facilities.
• Bean-to-cup gourmet coffee.
• Brand-name snacks.
• Mobile to Go Zone with the latest GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories.

Love’s was founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oklahoma City. The company remains family-owned and operated and employs more than 38,000 people. Love’s actually opened three new sites on the same day in December. In addition to Muscatine, Love’s opened  travel stops in Normal, Illinois, and Patterson, California. The Patterson location adds 85 jobs and 91 truck parking spaces to Stanislaus County; and the Normal location adds 110 jobs and 111 truck parking spaces to McLean County. “There’s no better time to open three locations in one day than in the month of December as professional drivers and four-wheel customers are on the highways during the holiday season,” said Shane Wharton, president of Love’s, in a statement. “Whether it’s fresh food, snacks, coffee or just somewhere to stretch your legs, Love’s is excited to show customers highway hospitality in Muscatine, Patterson and Normal.” During Thursday’s ceremonies, Muscatine Chamber member Hannah Howard called the new Love’s a place that will give truckers and other “road warriors” a break from the road to get fuel, food and other needed items.