Nashville-based Williams TravelCenters has opened five new locations in December and another three more in January 2000. The eight new TravelCenters represent the company's most aggressive expansion to date, increasing Williams' interstate network to a total of 44 locations - 30 of the 12,000-square-foot TravelCenters and 14 slightly smaller "Travel Stops."

The five opened in December include centers in Commerce, GA (I-85, exit 52), Ocala, FL (I-75, exit 71), Biloxi, MS. (I-10, exit 44), Lowell, IN (I-65, exit 240), and White Pine, TN (I-81, exit 4). In January, new centers opened in Higginsville, MO (I-70, exit 49), Memphis, TN (Hwy. 78 at Shelby) and Waco (Robinson), TX (I-35, exit 328).
The new centers feature technology such as SmartFuel, DriverNet and Park 'N View (at select locations), as well as fleet-fueling incentive programs for companies of all sizes.
Each new location includes the company's 24-hour restaurant -The Main Street Cafe - plus a combination sandwich/pizza/ice cream shop; retail store; and numerous other amenities for professional drivers. The locations are all located near interstates and built on sites that are generally 15 acres or more.. The company plans to have 85 centers built by the end of 2001, with the ultimate goal of 135 coast-to-coast. Construction is expected to begin on 25 new centers this year.
Williams also owns Mapco Express Inc., which operates the company's 227 convenience stores and six Convenience Centers (larger than a convenience store but smaller than a TravelCenter).
0 Comments