The new Love’s Travel Stop opened Thursday at the Interstate 80 interchange with Briggs Street.

The fuel center includes a Hardee’s restaurant, which opens Monday, 91 truck parking spaces, a 14,722-square-foot store; and many other features, according to a news release issued by Love’s on Friday.

“The new location also offers convenient access to fresh food, clean restrooms, a dog park and more,” according to the release. “It’s the perfect stopping point for those visiting nearby attractions, including Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway.”

The new Love’s has 70 employees and opened Thursday, according to the release.

At one time, it was expected to open in 2019.

But neighbors who opposed the project went to court with a case contending that illegal strip annexation was used to bring the Love’s site into Joliet in 2018, when the City Council approved the project in a split vote.

Neighbors filed suit in 2019 and kept up the legal fight until a state appellate court ruled in Love’s favor in 2024.

City officials who backed the project said a new Love’s Travel Stop could lead to more economic development at the interchange.

Other features at the new Love’s include three RV parking spaces, nine diesel bays, seven showers and laundry facilities.

“As a new Love’s location, the Joliet travel stop has space allocated for EV chargers, allowing Love’s to quickly partner with local utility companies to install charging stations should customer demand arise,” according to the release.

“In honor of the grand opening, Love’s will donate $2,500 to the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, $2,500 to Trinity Services Inc., and $5,000 to Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago,” according to the release.