By T. Scott Boatright
The countdown is on — Lincoln Parish’s newest truck stop will open on May 29.
Quyntyn Johnson, Senior Vice President of Operations for LV Petroleum, appeared during Grambling’s Monthly City Council meeting and announced that the TravelCenters of America (TA) location being constructed just off the westbound side of the Grambling Interstate 20 exit is set to open on that date.
TA’s offerings include diesel fuel, gasoline, food items and related accessories, truck repair and maintenance services, quick service restaurants, travel and convenience stores, diesel exhaust fluid and several customer amenities such as quick service restaurants and other food products.
There are 13 TA truck stops across the U.S., including one in Minden.
“You’ll see a lot of great prices for things like soft drinks and food,” Johnson said. “We will have two showers in there and you can wash your clothes there if need be.
“We will have a Subway (sandwich restaurant) and Caribou Coffee, too.
Johnson said a staff of seven will always serve the Travel Centers 24 hours a day with food services starting at 6 a.m. and running through 10 p.m.
“Our facility will never close,” Johnson said. “We will be open 24/7 265 days a year. “
Johnson said the truck stop will total 60-80 employees with hiring set to start next week, adding that starting wages will be $14 per hour with benefits for full-time employees, including medical, dental and vision coverage with a 401k program also planned.
Grambling’s TA location will have room for 50-75 big trucks and RVs to park overnight, and Johnson said that they hope to add to that number as the company acquires more land.
“We’ll also have 200-300 parking spots, so the more land we can gain the better,” Johnson said. “We want to be ready for the football and basketball games we have coming to Grambling.
“The RV spots near the front of the store will number 10 to 20 and will cost $18 a day for those. All the other parking is free.
Johnson said there will be 65- or 75-inch television screens located around the center that will include opportunities for locally- as well as nationally based advertising.
“There will be a small fee for local advertising, but those monitors will be on all of the time, so everybody that comes into the store will see those advertisements,” Johnson said. “
Johnson concluded by saying TA is not only coming to Grambling but intends to be a key part of the city.
“I know you have Junteenth coming up and we plan to do some things for that,” Johnson said. “I’ve already talked with (Grambling Police Chief Tommy Clark) because one of the things we’ve done is getting bulletproof vests for law enforcement in our marketplaces. We want them to come by our centers and know they’re taken care of.”
In other business during Thursday’s meeting, Grambling’s City Council also granted approval for Lawrence Rogers to build a $4 million plaza on R.W.E. Drive south of I-20 that will include a barbershop, a beauty shop, a barbecue dining establishment, a drive-through/pick-up daiquiri shop, office space and something labeled on floor plans as “Golf Experience.”
“Now that’s something I’m going to have to find out more about,” Mayor Alvin Bradley said. “I need to know what that ‘Golf Experience’ is going to be.”
