Walking into Shoemaker’s Travel Plaza in Lincoln, Nebraska, is certain to take you back to a time when fuel pumping equipment were a thing of beauty. At the location you’re greeted with an amazing collection of gasoline and diesel pumps along with a vast amount of other types of fuel industry memorabilia.
This fall, NATSO President and Chief Executive Officer Lisa Mullings and I had the pleasure of visiting the location and spending some time with Dave and Ryan Shoemaker, the father-and-son team that are running the family business.
Every time I visit Dave’s location I am filled with nostalgia, and when you speak with other customers, they reference this feeling of days from yesteryears. In addition to the numerous period pieces at the location, customers are also welcomed with a mural that allows travelers to see highlights of their journey from coast to coast. On any given day you may catch Dave explaining the landmarks along the way and the significance of each.
The location is decorated beautifully, and customer centric excellence abounds from the greeting of customers to the quick, friendly service. Operationally, customers are enjoy clean fuel pumps and restrooms. Over-the-road drivers and the traveling public want for nothing as far as product selection is concerned. All of the products are laid out in an easy-to-shop environment with everything properly departmentalized.
Additionally, Dave took great pride in building an operation that incorporated all the modern cost savings opportunities available to him at the time. From the type of lighting employed to how light itself was used to HVAC layout and other significant energy savers, Dave took advantage of new technology that can save money. Dave can be a great resource for modern energy savings. Two years ago he was kind enough to share insights with fellow independent operators at The NATSO Show 2013 in Savannah, Georgia, and he is always more than willing to share his expertise with fellow operators in Stop Watch magazine.
Read More About Shoemaker's Travel Plaza on NATSO's Website:
- How Are You Involving Your Community to Boost Your Brand with Local Customers
- Resources, Tools and Opportunities in Energy Efficiency
- Who Do You Look Up To In The Truckstop Industry?
/// Read more Truckstop Travels here.
Photo Credit: Darren Schulte/NATSO
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