The owners of the Team Oil Travel Center, Eric and his dad Tony Huppert, were presented a plaque by Pierce County Supervisor, Ken Snow and Gilman County Supervisor, Don Nellessen, commemorating the opening of the Team Oil Travel Center’s Subway addition last month in Spring Valley, Wis.
The plaque is in appreciation for the employment opportunities Team Oil Inc. has created in the Spring Valley community. More than 35 individuals work within the Team Oil Travel Center servicing the needs of residents and visitors of the area.
In the last 10 years, the Team Oil Travel Center has grown from a equipment sales lot into a full convenience store, a BP gas station, liquor store, car wash, RV parking area, Subway and a fully staffed Westconsin Credit Union.
The completion of the Subway addition to its travel center was the result of five years of planning. During the six months of construction, Eric and Tony contributed over 2,000 man hours and over 150 hours of their equipment time to the job’s general contractor to get the construction completed. Eric Huppert also completed a week of training at Subway’s training facility in Connecticut last November to prepare for yesterday’s grand opening.
More than 90 surveillance cameras and 80 LED security lights were installed for the public and employees safety.
To attract customers to the facility, Team Oil takes a cue from one of its competitors– Wall Drug’s–by running several promotions, such as offering free water to travelers and providing 10 Free RV overnight parking sites, complete with water and electricity.
With more than 150 paved parking stalls and acres of green space, Team Oil Travel Center offers averages 650 customers a day and generates more than $4 million in gross sales annually.
“We have continued to grow and expand even during the latest recession,” Tony Huppert said. “What started out over 60 years ago as a lumber mill providing jobs for the residents of Spring Valley, now has been transformed into an oasis for travelers.”
Team Oil Travel Center’s location makes its success understandable. More than four million people live with in one hour of the center and approximately 450,000 tourists visit the Spring Valley area recreational attractions each year.
Pictured from left: Tony Huppert, Eric Huppert, Don Nellessen, Ken Snow and Bessy the cow.