I stopped and checked out this newer Petro in Columbia, South Carolina. It has a Quaker Steak and Lube open 10am to Midnight 7 days which has 2 different bars, a bowling alley and big arcade for kids. Also has your standard petro accommodations laundry, tv room, exercise room, showers. Seems the new Petros are doing away with the building between the fuel island, you have to walk into the main building and conduct business inside with a cashier that handles everything from Diesel and Gasoline. Pretty much like pilot. Nothing separate for Truckers. My feelings are mixed on the whole setup. The Quaker Steak was good, but pricey, $15.39 for a Pepsi and 12 boneless wings. No fries or anything. Plus tip... It was very loud as you have tons of Families/Kids running around, plus a sports bar atmosphere. No 24 hour food here besides what ever they have in the cooler case. I could be wrong but I don't see many drivers getting done working 14 hours and then going bowling by themselves? Kind of odd, I would think? I personally like the older petros so you can get fuel, run in, and run out and not have to be waiting in line with 10 kids buying candy etc etc...
I spaced that out into 3 paragraphs on my tablet, not sure why it was posted like that? Wasn't supposed to be 1 big paragraph??? Oh well....
The bowling alley is strange. I could see bumper cars to help relieve some of the road rage but not bowling.
I didn't even know there was a new Petro in Columbia. The bowling alley leaves me speechless. Who takes their kids to a truck stop to bowl? Anyone who owns stock in this company might want to consider repositioning.
Ya, Truck Stops and Children don't mix. Loves has a location right across the street also, believe it is newer as well... Interstate 77 exit 5.
As part of my saying to he'll with loves I fueled at the TA in morris ill today on my way east . Food was excellent . .service mediocre ..and didn't screw around waiting forever for a shower ! Don't know why anyone in a car would stop at a truck stop ?! ..I sure as he'll wouldn't !
I'm not a fan of Loves either, but I am a fan of them building a new store next to every Pilot in existence. Dropped the prices 15 cents at my home town Pilot and I no longer have to wait in line. God bless them. No bowling alley either. Lol.
Ohhhhh and lousy fast food too ! ...came by sapps at the 73 mm today and the billboard said subway coming soon . Yuk ! Keptright on truckin . Sapps also lost my business when they started charging 16 bucks for a shower .
