OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 7, 2016) — Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. plans to open more than 40 travel stops in 2016, 25 of which will have a Love's Tire Care Center on site.
The ambitious expansion program — the most openings ever in a single year — builds on the company's busiest year to date, with the opening of 27 locations with more than 2,000 truck parking spaces in 2015. The new stores expanded to 300 the number of Love's Travel Stops in operation throughout the U.S.
The new stores, half of which will be built along state and federal highways, will open in 28 states, according to Love's Co-CEO Frank Love. The company did not disclose its projected investment in the expansion.
“We remain committed to providing more safe places for our customers to fuel, park and rest, and these newly constructed locations will add more than 3,200 truck-parking spaces to our network,” he added.
All new travel stops will offer amenities such as showers, truck parking, DEF, quick-service restaurants and other driver services.
“The travel stops are our core business and we're always examining ways to improve our customers' experience,” Mr. Love said. “We maintain a robust remodel schedule to ensure that our existing locations remain clean, safe and well-maintained. Meanwhile, we continue to grow in other areas that complement our stores.”
Love's will begin working with three new restaurant concepts in 2016, the company said, bringing Love's total number of quick-service restaurant partners to 19. Love's first Dunkin Donuts will open in January in Canaan, N.Y. and its first IHOP Express is scheduled to launch in Sidney, Neb. and the company's first Taco John's will also begin serving customers in Liberal, Kan., both in the spring.
Love's also plans to expand its nascent interstate hotel business — with four hotels open — with 10 locations adjacent to Love's stores this year.