“Most things are good here. Clean, well manicured sites, and constant attention from maintenance folks. Can't beat the nightly rate. There are a few hiccups, though, and some of them are head-scratchin'. While every site is FHU, not everyone (us!) connect water/sewer, so proximately of the bathroom facilities is important. You have two options: an actual roadside rest area hundreds of yards away; and, the tribal market hundreds of yards away. But when the market is closed, you only have the other option after hours. Another issue is how unlevel the tarmac site pads are. We did all we could with what we had, and it wasn't enough. Not a deal breaker though. Like their sister property in Airway Heights WA (Northern Quest), there are a lot of rules and restrictions on tribal property. But again, not something that would cause us not to return. I'm no gambler, but the Wifey reported their slots were tighter than a frog's sphincter, yet she's smart enough to bail on losing after $40. It stings to know that's wasted money, but she works hard, and if she gets a little enjoyment out of that, so be it. I must mention, the entire staff of the casino, market, and RV maintenance crew were all happy and friendly, and boy that goes a long way with me...”
The Iowa retailer, the third-largest convenience store operator in the country, built its new three-year plan around three priorities: store growth, food and beverage expansion, and kitchen technology upgrades. The company plans to add 120 stores during the current fiscal year. Its previous plan, launched in 2023, delivered more than 500 new stores and earned the company a spot in the S&P 500.
Love's Travel Stops is starting 2025 with ambitious growth plans, adding 20 new stores and updating 50 current locations across the country. The truck stop company will upgrade its stores through its Strategic Remodel Initiative, which started in 2022. This includes the modernization of its recently acquired turnpike location in Stroud, Oklahoma. By 2035, over half of Love's 655 stores will be either new or updated.
Texas-born Buc-ee's is changing the way people think about gas stations and convenience stores. This chain is known for its huge stores along highways, some with over 100 fuel pumps. With its funny billboard ads, award-winning clean bathrooms, and branded items Buc-ee’s is hard to miss. The company wants people to actually plan to stop at Buc-ee's during road trips, not just go there as a last resort. And it's working - the chain has a huge fan base, with Facebook groups dedicated to Buc-ee's having hundreds of thousands of members.
Sheetz Inc., the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain, is making big moves in the Motor City. The company announced plans to open four more locations across metro Detroit, weeks before opening its first Michigan location. The first Michigan Sheetz will open its doors in late summer at 33380 Wick Road in Romulus. More locations are planned for Taylor, Warren, and Macomb Township, each employing around 30 people, mostly full-time.
Love's Travel Stops is rolling out a new system that turns work into a game for its restaurant employees. Picture this: Three big screens in each restaurant, tracking how fast workers greet customers, take orders, and hand out food. It's not just for show - early results say it's making service 11 seconds faster on average. "These monitors track key performance metrics in real-time, such as greet times, order processing times and the time it takes for food handoff," Love's explains. The system creates a more interactive environment, fostering friendly competition between stores.