Motorists traveling to Meridian from Interstate 20/59 east and west will have two newly remodeled truck stops to choose from as they take a break.

The Love’s truckstop in Toomsuba and the former Spaceway Truck Plaza west of the airport will offer new options for customers stopping to get gas or food.

Love’s reopened its store on Thursday and the former Spaceway Plaza, now called Mr. Fuel, will open with a Dunkin’ Donuts Express and a Subway on Monday.

The restaurant side of Love’s has been closed since June 2018, but the truckstop was still open for gas and tire repairs until December.

The reopened facility will provide more than 60 jobs to the Toomsuba area and provide 71 additional parking spaces for truckers, according to the company.

“We had a lot of customers that have been really interacting with the reopening, we really hope to serve their needs and customers’ wants,” David Reynolds, general manager for the Love’s in Toomsuba said.

James Tate, of Picayune, returned to the location after finding it was closed last week. He was excited that he and his friend could continue their tradition of stopping there.

“We have been coming here for the last six to eight years,” Tate said.

Melissa Elliott, of Linden, Alabama, said she will no longer have to go to Sam’s Club for gas, now that her favorite place is back open.

Coming to Meridian to take care of her mother, Elliot has been stopping at the location for the last 30 years. She likes the upgrade since the old truck stop had been there for a long time.

“So far it has been great, I love the way it looks,” Elliot said.

Some additions to the truck stop include more bathrooms, laundry facilities, additional showers, a tire-care center, an Arby’s restaurant, parking for RVs and more gas pumps. Reynolds said the upgrades will also include ready-to-order food, such as tacos, a slushy machine, sandwiches, fruit and a salad bar.

Reynolds said when the location at Toomsuba was closed, he and some of his other employees worked at different stores across the state.

Lillie Brooks, an 11-year employee who lives in Livingston, Alabama, said her commute to work will be a lot smoother since she will not have to travel to West Point to work.

“It’s a whole better than making an hour and a half drive,” Brooks said.

Reynolds thinks the store will provide more options for the customers and also produce some tax revenue for the local economy.

At the new Mr. Fuel, drivers can expect to see a Dunkin’ Donuts Express and a Subway at the former Spaceway location. Phil Sweeney, construction project manager for Mr. Fuel Gas, said since there is not another Dunkin’ Donuts in the Meridian area, it will be a good option for East Mississippi residents. The closest Dunkin’ Donuts is in Pearl.

“We are trying to provide something for the community,” Sweeney said.

The Dunkin’ Donuts Express will be a self-serve. Customers will be able to help themselves to a cup of coffee, donuts and a variety of pastries, Sweeney said. There will not be a barista or the options for made to order food, such as sandwiches, Sweeney said. The Subway and the Dunkin’ Donuts Express will open Monday.

The Love’s Truck Stop will have an official grand opening at 10:30 a.m. April 11. The truck stop will also make a $1,000 donation to Southeast and Northeast Elementary schools.