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Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, an American family-owned chain of more than 500 truck stops and convenience stores in 41 states in the United States, is coming to Rutherford County.
An official groundbreaking ceremony was held Nov. 20 where it was announced Love's will invest between $7 and $9 million in the project.
Love's representative Bill Gleason, FreightWorks founder/owner Joshua Farmer, Property Works Strategic Advisor Butch Maltby, county officials, family and friends attended the brief ceremony held at the construction site.
The Love's Travel Stop will be built off US221 near the intersection of Highway 74, off Burch Hutchins Road, on about 13 areas of the 85 acre piece of property to be developed.
"This is a signature gateway to the community," Maltby said.
"Bless it, and our county as we come together," Farmer's pastor, Sam Whaley, prayed to begin the ground breaking ceremony.
Maltby said the project had been in the plans about three years and one of the delaying points was infrastructure to the property that was estimated to cost 0$1.9 million.
After lengthy discussions with the Town of Spindale, who will provide sewer service and Broad River Water Authority, who will provide water, and discussions with Rutherford County officials, the project was on the map.
Maria Hunnicutt, executive director of BRWA, Scott Webber, Spindale Town Manager and Spindale Mickey Bland were among those attending and welcomed the company to the area.
Rutherford County Manager Steve Garrison, other Commissioners, Economic Development Commission members and Chamber of Commerce representatives also attended.
"Love's Travel Stop's commitment to build here is an investment in the future of our community," County Commission Chair Bryan King began. "It expresses that Rutherford County is a place where there are new possibilities," said King.
"These new possibilities continue in the Property Works Development Co. concept drawings for Creekside Commerce Center, the build-out plans include restaurants, hotels, a grocery store and much more," King said.
The property includes one mile of road frontage.
King said investments such as Love's coming to the county, "doesn't happen without vibrant communities.
"The last several years, the leadership and citizens of our towns and cities...have all worked very hard together and individually to improve and invest in the assets of their towns, downtown and neighborhoods. Vibrant communities are happening because of you," King said.
"Love, you will find in Rutherford County that you will be a part of and share in the vibrant communities and new possibilities of our community," King said to the company's representative.
Maltby said the breaking of the ground is in a "vibrant community."
Gleason said back in the 1980s people wanted to see textiles...they left. Love's still here," he said. He said he has helped start more than 70 Love's across the nation and he said it's like birthing a baby. "Today, it is happening."
The official ground-breaking was different than some. The group wanted to do something different, Farmer said. He then stepped up into the cab of a track hoe, cranked it and proceeded to move dirt.
Later most attending had an opportunity to turn the dirt with shovels.
The plan is Love's will be open by August 2023.
Refreshments were provided by church volunteers.
