Gateway Travel Plaza opens Wednesday

The travel plaza has an open air concept with antiques lining the walls, brick and wood decor which flows into Wendy's. That wait to grab a Frostie is just about over. The Gateway Travel Plaza will be opening Oct. 15.

Brian Hatchett and Dr. Jerry Ted Roberts, of Roberts and Hatchett Properties said the truck plaza and Wendy's will for certain open on the 15th; they hope the bank will be ready.

Hatchett said the design of the facility is "definately a western" motif. Murals of horses and riders lead visually through the plaza, from the Gateway Truck Plaza to the stone fireplace in Wendy's

Hatchett said there is even an electric pony for the kids to ride and the walls are lined with antiques. "We are even offering a rustic furniture line which will be for sale at the plaza," said Hatchett.

Roberts said this plaza is offering many amenities not found anywhere else in East Texas. "We are offering a Wendy's with a full-size dining room, Shell gasoline with a mini mart featuring groceries, beer, wine and more and, of course, Bank Texas," said Roberts.

Hatchett said the 14,000 square foot facility is being laid out like one large business, where customers can flow from the convenience store to the bank and then to Wendy's without ever going outside.

Wendy's has a stone fireplace and rustic wood tables with lots of room for customers. Wendy's will be open 24 hours and serving breakfast. The drive-through is a littel different too, said Hatchett. "It is like a horseshoe, you drive in from the left of the store and circle to the right so you don't have to drive all the way around the building," said Hatchett.

Hatchett said the vendors will be filling shelves on Tuesday. "We have already hired 20 employees and are looking for more," said Hatchett. "Wendy's has fired over 40 and are still hiring."

We are also putting tables and chairs outside in front of the store for people to set and eat or just relax said Hatchett.

"If you like the idea of doing everything from the pumps, we are offering a delivery system for Bank Texas right at the pumps where you can do all your banking without going inside while your gas pumps," said Hatchett.

Roberts said another feature offered nowhere else in East Texas is the "super high speed diesel pumps" which will pump 60 gallons a minute, which means little downtime for semi's or oil field rigs. "We have four of these pumps in the back of the facility and we also offer standard diesel pumps in the front on each end of the fuel island," said Roberts.

Hatchett said the restroom was designed after a restroom in Vegas Wendy's will be open 24 hours a day and will serve breakfast, said Roberts. "Some of these oil field workers start very early in the morning and now there is a place they can get breakfast at three or four o'clock in the morning," said Roberts.

"The Wendy's is being leased by the same owner of the Wendy's in Longview and White Oak," said Roberts. "Bank Texas, out of Quitman, will also be leasing their space and will be operated by people East Texans have been used to dealing with for years."

"We also have plenty of parking for big trucks with room for parking expansion if needed," said Roberts.