(Le Mars) — Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30th will mark the end of an era.
It is the last day for the J and J Cafe restaurant to be open. The Le Mars Truck Stop will close a week later. Le Mars residents have been accustomed to eating at the restaurant, and filling their gas tanks at the local truck stop since the late 1950’s. Kent Hanstein along with Beth Dreckman are the owners of the Le Mars Truck Stop convenience store and the accompanying
restaurant. Hanstein offers a brief history of the truck stop and offers an explanation as to why they decided to sale the facilities.
Hanstein says part of the reason for agreeing to sell the facilities is because of a pending retirement.
Kwik-Star is headquartered in Wisconsin and has several convenience stores scattered throughout the upper Midwest. Although Hanstein hasn’t visited directly with any Kwik-Star company officials, as the entire business transaction has gone through corporate attorneys, he says it is his understanding the new convenience store company wants to have the new store
in operation within a few months.
On any given day, at least 30 some semi trucks can be found parked behind the truck stop building, and many people are wondering where those trucks will park in the future?
No doubt, many people will miss the familiar restaurant. But, Hanstein believes somebody may attempt to start up another restaurant within Le Mars.
Hanstein says the entire transaction initially began nearly a year ago.
