Texarkana, Texas - QuikTrip, an Oklahoma-based travel center company, has set its sights on Texarkana for a new location.
"We look at our map carefully, with various factors leading us to place our stores," said Mike Thornbrugh, the company's manager of public and government affairs.
He described Texarkana as "an attractive place to put a travel center."
"Not only is the town a significant transpiration hub, with lots of travel going through at all times, major transportation arteries are moving through the area, which is going to fuel expansion. This is a place to be."
QuickTrip plans to locate along Kings Highway near Road Runner and Dixie Diner, just off Interstate 30. Right now, a metal building previously used by Cross Pointe Church on the property is planned for removal. The company is now going through the paperwork hoops necessary to begin construction.
Based out of Tulsa, Okla., the company's careful expansion has placed 810 stores and travel centers in states as varied as Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois, as well as Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; and upstate South Carolina. They recently announced a planned store in the Denver, Colorado metro area.
Travel centers are a common sight for Texas travelers now, but Thornbrugh believes QuikTrip stands out in the herd.
"Our customer service is key," he said. "It is the best in the industry. It is what our company emphasizes."
A key as to what fuels their expansion, besides seeking business opportunities, is creating opportunities for their workforce to expand and excel.
"We encourage our labor force to learn and increase their skills. In turn, we want to have opportunities for them to take advantage of," he said. "We've been developing our travel center concept for a long time and we want our employees to develop along with it."
QuikTrip also has been developing fresh food offerings at their outlets.
"We've built commissaries, bakeries and such to support our stores," he said. "And we've been training our employees and been setting up logistics chains to support fresh food. Pizza, breakfast foods, tacos, we are looking to expand our menu, too. But we aren't doing it haphazardly. Each addition, we take time and care to make sure that our customers want it and we have the people and infrastructure in place to
support."
As to the Texarkana QuikTrip, Thornbrugh said a groundbreaking date is to be determined.
"Right now, we are going through the permit process," he said. "Be patient, we will get there. We look forward to earning your
business."