Editor's note: Darren Schulte, NATSO vice president of membership, frequently visits NATSO members to review their locations and offers impactful merchandising and operations improvements. Contact Schulte at dschulte@natso.com or (915) 526-5820 to learn more about the costs and details of this service.
Horn Oil’s Outpost Travel Center operates seven locations and has built an audience of loyal followers through its full-service restaurants and delicious food service. They are building a brand all on their own, and have focused on the local community as well as drivers.
Their full-service restaurants have gone back to their roots and offer comfort food and Southern flavor as well as hearty portions. All of the items are good, but I loved the cold stone cornbread. It is a different type of cornbread that is hard, and it really stood out.
The Outpost Travel Center locations have casinos in them, which bring in a lot of locals. They do a good job of converting those casino customers into restaurant customers. Many of their locations are in rural areas, and they’ve become the place to gather for those nearby.
For customers on the go, Outpost Travel Center has roller grill and grab-and-go items along with the usual offerings you find in a truckstop or travel plazas.
Each of their locations are a little different with regards to their merchandising and their appearance, but you get a sense of the local area in each. There is no doubt you are in the South, and there is a very humble and comfortable feeling in the travel centers.
They know everybody by name and put a Mr. or Mrs. in front of it. I was greeted as Mr. Darren, which immediately made me feel welcome. That is the Louisiana friendliness, and you feel it throughout the location.
/// Did you know most weeks you can find me visiting a NATSO member truckstop location, spending three to four days, using my merchandising and operations expertise to help them grow their business? I periodically share about those great retailers I visit here on the blog. Read more Truckstop Travels here.
Photo Credit: Darren Schulte/NATSO
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