Construction to begin in July for Love’s Travel Stop & Country Store in West Point – Reuters

WEST POINT — At the City of West Point business meeting on Tuesday, City Manager Ed Moon announced construction of a Love’s Travel Stop & Country Store will begin in July. In an interview, West Point Mayor Steve Tramell said construction on the new business was originally scheduled to begin in the fall. The new location will be built on 19.2 acres on Georgia Highway 18 just off Interstate 85.

Moon said the company will have a fast-food restaurant, a field store, eight gas pumps in the field store, nine gas stations for truckers and a tire store. The main structure will be 17,000 square feet and the tire shop 13,000 square feet.

“They estimated something…about $9 million,” Moon said. “They also estimated some tax revenue, which is $1.4 million a year for local governments. I don’t know if that’s correct. Ours would be around $25,000 for property tax on the property. But the fuel sales, the sales tax that comes with that, we collect. So it will be a good income for us.

“[I’m] very happy that they are coming and I can’t wait for them to be part of our community,” said Tramell.

Tramell said construction could take between a year and a year and a half.

Love’s Travel Stops purchased the land for their new location in 2018. The land, previously owned by the Johnson and Harrell families, had been under contract with Love’s since September 2017.

Tramell said development of the site was delayed because the company wanted to wait for roundabouts to be built nearby. Tramell said the roundabouts were beautiful.

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, according to Love’s.

It was founded in 1964 and has over 550 locations in 41 states. The stores offer truck drivers and professional motorists with 24/7 access to “clean and safe places to purchase gasoline, diesel fuel, compressed natural gas (CNG), travel goods, electronics, snacks, catering offers and more”. Tramell said people who drive regular vehicles can also go to Love’s to buy gas.