By Morgan Bryce
Editor
Smiths Station’s Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores location officially opened its doors for business last week, nearly 17 months after the project’s construction began.
The occasion was celebrated by company representatives, community members and officials from the City of Smiths Station, which included a $1,000 donation from Love’s to the Smiths Station High School Band.
“This is a great addition for Smiths Station. They’re known for their cleanliness, top-notch customer service and providing quality products to their consumers,” said Smiths Station Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland. “On behalf of the city, I am excited to welcome Love’s into our community.”
Located at the corner of Lee Road 248 and U.S. Highway 280/431, the store’s opening is expected to create upwards of 50 new jobs and generate at least $3 million in taxable sales.
The facility is nearly 11,000 square feet in size. Other store features include Chester’s Chicken and Godfather’s Pizza restaurants, CAT scale, coffee bar, dog park, 51 parking spaces, 60 car parking spaces, three RV parking spaces and an RV dump, six diesel bays and six showers for truck drivers.
Smiths Station officials unveiled plans for the store during an Aug. 28, 2018 city council meeting. Nearly three months later, city officials, dignitaries and Love’s representatives attended a groundbreaking ceremony on the site.
Weather consistently bogged down the project during its construction, as well as the slight widening of Summerville Road in front of Love’s.
With sewage added to the Love’s site, Copeland said residents can expect an uptick in growth and development along that corridor of U.S. Highway 280.
Michael Rasmusson will serve as the store’s general manager. Final hours of operation have not been set.
For more information, visit loves.com. The store’s address is 113 U.S. Highway 280.