By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores Inc. has narrowed its search to Falkville in a push to expand operations in Alabama.
Bill Gleason, a real estate development manager for Love’s, told Falkville officials the company has contracted to buy a 14-acre tract of land in the southwest corner of I-65 and Highway 55. He said the purchase depends on the outcome of soil tests and the rezoning of the tract for commercial development.
He said if everything goes as planned, the project could be under construction in 60 to 90 days and completed in early 2008. A new Love’s Travel Stop opened in Columbia, Tenn, recently and another one is ready for construction in Clanton.
Gleason was scheduled to be back in town Feb. 6 to discuss the proposed commercial development with the Planning Commission. If it agrees to rezone the property, a public hearing will be scheduled before it comes up for a vote. After that, the matter will have to be voted on by the town council, following another public hearing.
Walker said Gleason projected that tax revenue generated from a Love’s Travel Stop would bring in $288,000 a year for the town of Falkville.
Walker said he first learned Love’s was looking at Falkville as a prospective new location last November.
Love’s is family-owned corporation with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Okla. It was founded in 1964 when Tom Love leased a closed service station in western Oklahoma. Through the years it has grown to more than 190 Travel Stops and County Stores in 36 states and was ranked No. 188 in Forbes Magazine’s list of the 500 largest private companies in the U. S. in 2003.
Love’s Travel Stops typically feature eight gas pumps for automobiles, eight pumps for commercial trucks, ample parking space, oversize private showers, large, clean rest rooms, quality restaurant choices such as Arby’s, Wendy’s, Subway, McDonald’s etc, snacks, drinks and fresh hot coffee, truck and auto accessories and supplies, gifts, clothing and collectibles, phone, fax and copy service and ATMs.