Signs Removed, Love's Has 'No Immediate Plans To Reopen"

The Love’s Travel Center in western Mills County won’t be reopening anytime soon and the long-term future of the business appears to be uncertain.

“There are no immediate plans to reopen the Pacific Junction, Iowa, location that has been closed due to the widespread flooding that affected the area this spring,” Chad Previch, external communications manager for Oklahoma-based Love’s stated in an e-mail to The Opinion-Tribune on Monday.

Love’s was forced to close in March after Missouri River flooding devastated western Mills County. Love’s and other businesses near the Interstate 29 – Highway 34 interchange sustained extensive damage as a result of the historic flooding. Love’s opened in February 2018 and was expected to serve as a catalyst for future growth and economic development in the county’s newly-created Eagle Crossing Business Park.

Previch said about 20 employees from the Pacific Junction store have been relocated to nearby Love’s and Speedco locations in Council Bluffs, Shelby, Valley, Neb., Syracuse, Neb., and North Platte, Neb.

“We also provided emergency assistance to affected employees, including several who lost their homes in the flooding,” Previch said. “We want to thank our customers who visited our Pacific Junction, Iowa, store and our employees who provided great customer service to the community.”

Last week, crews started removing “Love’s” signs from the property, fueling speculation that the business won’t be coming back. Mills County Economic Develop Director Rick Allely said he’s hopeful that’s not the case.

“I’ve taken calls. People have got to be patient, don’t overreact,” he said. “This recovery is not going to be quick. It’s going to be strategic. The businesses - as well as the county and cities - everybody’s going to take a look at everything from top to bottom before they make a decision, one way or the other and rightfully so. We need to make sure those levees are back in place and the infrastructure is able to handle it.”

Allely said members of the Mills County Economic Development Foundation Board of Directors have reached out to Love’s management since the flooding occurred.

“We’re here to work with them,” he said. “We certainly don’t want them to leave.”