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Love’s celebrates grand opening

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Members of Love’s and the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon at the grand opening of Love’s Travel Stop on Bayshore Road Wednesday. Chuck Ballaro
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hawn Fowler, left, district manager of Love’s, and Tim Wipf, general manager of the new Love’s in North Fort Myers, talk to members of the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce about the store. Chuck Ballaro

They had heard so much about it in the past months, they had to see it for themselves.

Members of the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, along with State Rep. Matt Hudson, got a dollar’s worth as they took a 10-cent tour during the grand opening of the new Love’s Travel Stop on Bayshore Road off Exit 143 on I-75.

Also on hand for the event was Love’s district manager Shawn Fowler, media specialist Kealey Dorian and Wendy’s district manager Michelle McCurdy, whose new location also celebrated its grand opening.

Fowler, along with store manager Tim Wipf, said the travel stop, while truck-centric, is a place for travelers of all kinds.

“We offer a full-service stop for food, beverages and any break you may need on the road,” Fowler said. “The store is the nicest looking one we operate. The landscaping and look are amazing and this will be a great market for us.”

Chamber members got to see just about everything on the 23-acre complex, which includes pumps in the front and back, a convenience store, a Subway and Wendy’s, and a tire center.

Most came away impressed with the store that had its soft opening on Aug. 14 and has spent the last two weeks ironing out the kinks.

“Love’s has exceeded my expectations. Having seen the tour and gone behind the scenes, it’s a very exciting thing to see what they offer to the trucker and the local community. It will be a nice addition here,” said Chris Jackson, executive director of the chamber.

They also learned that the pumps in the back had the ability to dispense fuel at 35 gallons per minute, and that some locations have on-site hotels.

“That’s something we need here in Fort Myers. You should look into that,” said Gregg Makepeace, president of the civic association.

Fowler said he would bring it up with his bosses, but it’s too early to tell what will happen.

The event concluded with a ribbon cutting and a $2,000 donation made by Love’s to Young Life of Lee County.

“We were at the end of the fiscal year and looking to cut back and this put us over the hump,” said Bill Loy of Young Life. “This will fund our programs until the end of the year.”

Afterward, there was another celebration at Wendy’s, where the mascot was and free donuts and other goodies were given to customers.

It was the least Love’s could do to thank the area for its overwhelming support.

“The community has been great leading up to the opening. We wanted to celebrate and tell the community thank you for allowing us to come,” Dorian said. “We want to serve the professional drivers once they see there’s a Love’s here and it’s another safe place for them to stop.”