Love's Travel Stop proposed for Hampshire area

A Love's Travel Stop proposed for the Hampshire area could serve as a catalyst for future expansion and development, Village President Jeff Magnussen said.

The roughly 10,000-square-foot travel center, which would include a gas station, a convenience store and up to three restaurants, is planned to be built at the southwest corner of Interstate 90 and Route 20.

Love's spokeswoman Kealey Dorian said the location was chosen for several reasons: It serves as a midway point between Chicago and Rockford, it has easy and free access to the tollway, and it's along a thoroughfare used heavily and often by professional drivers.

“The whole area is just a fantastic location to build and grow,” Magnussen said. “We're looking forward to Love's kicking us off, and then we'll go further north and west from there.”

Village officials are excited about the project, Magnussen said, though it's still in planning stages. Currently in unincorporated Hampshire Township, the property would have to be annexed into the village before Love's goes through the planning and zoning process and obtains formal village approval.

That lengthy process would be well worth it for all parties involved, Dorian said. By annexing into the village, and in turn extending its water and sewer services north and west, she said, Love's would be giving Hampshire more opportunities to market the surrounding land for potential development.

If all goes well, construction on the Love's Travel Stop would begin in spring of 2017, Dorian said. Love's has 11 other locations in Illinois, including Roscoe and Utica.

In addition to the gas station, the proposed travel center includes a convenience store, which sells food, beverages, small electronics, coolers and other items geared for professional drivers, Dorian said.

Two to three quick-service restaurants, which have not yet been chosen, would also be added, she said. According to its website, Love's partners with more than a dozen chains, including McDonald's, Taco Bell, Dunkin' Donuts, Dairy Queen, Arby's and Sonic.

The Love's Travel Stop is expected to employ 60 to 80 workers.