PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
RIBBON CUTTING … Employees from Love’s Travel Stops, Subway and Godfather’s Pizza stand with representatives from the Delta Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Delta during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Love’s location on State Route 109.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
Love’s Travel Stops recently celebrated the opening of its new Delta location with a ribbon cutting ceremony, bringing a new travel stop to the area near Ohio Turnpike Exit 39.
The new location is located at 8099 State Route 109 and serves travelers along the Ohio Turnpike, including those traveling on I-80 and I-90, as well as visitors heading to nearby Harrison Lake State Park.
The 22,101-square-foot travel stop includes 108 truck parking spaces, 84 car parking spaces, three RV hookups, an RV dump, seven diesel pumps, 10 gas pumps, four showers, laundry facilities, a CAT Scale, a dog park and self-checkout options.
The location also offers fresh food items prepared on site daily, including salads, sandwiches, wraps and fruit. Godfather’s Pizza and Subway are also part of the location’s food offerings.
Darren Watson, district manager for Love’s Travel Stops, said the response from the Delta area and surrounding communities has been very positive.
“The town has been welcoming, kind and fun,” Watson said. He added that the company was also able to work with local places in Wauseon to provide meeting space for job fairs while preparing to open the new location.
The Delta travel stop is adding 68 jobs to the area, with positions ranging from store retail operations to food service. Love’s also offers eligible full- and part-time team members access to tuition-free education and skill development through its Fuel Your Growth program, offered in partnership with Guild.
Watson, who has served as a district manager for four years, said the Delta opening is the third new store opening he has been involved with in that role.
He said each opening brings its own challenges but also provides an opportunity to meet the local team and connect with the community.
“My favorite thing is getting to meet the team that’s on site, and seeing the local people from the community,” Watson said.
Watson said Love’s stands out because of its family-owned structure and company culture. He said that positive culture carries into each location and helps make new openings feel special.
“I think Love’s sets itself apart,” Watson said. “We’re a special organization that started off family owned and still is to this day. That positive family culture kind of just embodies every location.”
As part of the grand opening, Love’s has donated $5,000 to The Open Door of Delta and $5,000 to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Toledo.
Watson said the company also works with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals each year, with customers able to donate throughout the year through transaction roundups and other giving opportunities.
He said Love’s also holds a larger fundraising effort in the fall, with money raised by each location going to the station’s local children’s hospital.
The Delta location also includes space set aside for electric vehicle chargers, allowing Love’s to work with local utility companies to install charging stations as customer demand develops.