Empire State Development Announces Opening of New Niagara County Travel Center
Quicklee’s Travel Center will Help Support Trucking and Tourism Industry
Project Supported by WNY Regional Economic Development Council Grant
See Photo of the New Quicklee’s Travel Center Here
Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the new Quicklee’s Travel Center has officially opened in Town of Niagara. The 6021 Porter Road facility offers a convenience store, Tim Hortons restaurant, laser vehicle wash, and other amenities for tour bus drivers, travelers, and the trucking community. The bright, clean center was designed to attract truck drivers, tour bus operators, as well as families on road trips vacationing in Niagara Falls- encouraging them to spend a longer time exploring the region. The center will also help alleviate some of the congestion at the border crossing bridges by providing a new option for truck refueling. To staff and maintain the travel center and its amenities, Quicklee’s is in the process of hiring 15 new full-time permanent employees.
“It is essential for professional truck drivers and traveling families to have a place to rest, refuel, and get something to eat,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight. “Commercial truck traffic is vital to our state’s economy as drivers haul billions of tons of virtually every commodity consumed. The new Quicklee’s Travel Center makes it easy for professional drivers to safely rest and refuel, while also catering to tourists who generate significant economic benefits to the region.”
Truck stops provide a pivotal role in truck and bus drivers’ well-being and overall job experience. The stops help ensure that drivers are getting proper rest, food, and social interaction with fellow drivers, which revitalizes them for the next leg of their journey. Safety is paramount, with the best travel centers providing robust security measures, well-lit parking areas, surveillance systems and a vigilant staff that prioritizes the well-being of its customers. A poorly operated truck stop puts both drivers and their cargo at risk.
In recent years, truck stops have evolved into travel centers, offering comprehensive conveniences beyond basic fuel and rest rooms. Quicklee’s 12,000-square-foot location near an interstate 190 exit, includes ample parking, a 3,000-square-foot truck washing building, a scale for weighing trucks, Wi-Fi, pet-friendly zones, and fuel pumps for both regular and diesel gasoline. Quicklee’s estimates it will sell approximately five million gallons of gas annually at the Porter Road location, bringing additional sales tax to Niagara County. The center also has shower facilities, which make it easy for truckers and travelers to refresh themselves without the extra expense of renting a hotel room.
Don F. Mills III, Quicklee’s Operations Manager said, “We are very excited to bring the first Quicklee’s to the Town of Niagara Falls! This Quicklee’s Travel Center is our largest location to date housing a convenience store, fireside lounge, and Tim Horton’s inside our main building. There is a designated area for truck and bus drivers with ample parking, a 3,000 square foot truck and bus wash building, CAT scale for weighing, and shower and laundry amenities in the store. We would like to thank everything involved in bringing this project to reality including but not limited to the Town of Niagara council, planning, and zoning boards, NYS Department of Transportation, Niagara County’s planning board and Community Development Block Grant program, and Empire State Development. We look forward to serving you and your family as a part of the Niagara Falls community. “
Katerina Glyptis, President of Tim Hortons USA said, “Today is an extra special day, not only is it an opening of this new Niagara Falls location, it is 60 years to the day from the opening of the very first Tim Hortons in Hamilton, Ontario. We’re so excited to continue celebrating 60 years of Tims – continuing to serve our communities always delicious coffee, breakfast and baked goods.”
Senator Rob Ortt said, “Whether it be those tasked with transporting goods from Canada to the rest of our county, or families that have chosen to visit Niagara Falls as their vacation destination, having an accessible, and well-renowned rest stop just off the I-190 will make travel that much easier for all those traversing our interstate. I’d like to thank our partners at the Niagara County IDA, Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, and Empire State Development for identifying this as a priority project and bringing this vital rest stop to our region.”
Assemblymember Angelo Morinello said, “I’d like to congratulate Quicklee’s & Tim Hortons on the Grand Opening of their new location in Niagara Falls. I’d also like to thank Empire State Development and the Niagara County IDA for their participation in the project. This Travel Center will not only provide a safe convenient way for truckers and travelers to rest and refuel, but it will also provide jobs for our community and help to stimulate our local economy.”
Town of Niagara Supervisor Sylvia Virtuoso said, Congratulations Quicklee's and Tim Hortons on your new endeavor in Town of Niagara. We are very happy you are here to add to the great business climate of the Town. We are proud you chose Town of Niagara to serve the Commercial Drivers and Tourists passing through our area. Thank you to Empire State Development and all who contributed its support in bringing these businesses to our Town and Niagara County. Wishing you many years of great success!!
City of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino, “With the already steady stream of trucking and tourism traffic in our area and indications of an increase in the future, this travel center is a welcome addition to our area. It is another location for travelers, both commercial and recreational, to stop and rest for the remainder of their journey, we welcome Quicklee’s to our community.”
Becky Wydysh, Chairman of the Niagara County Legislature said, "This is a great project that was strongly supported by our tourism industry as they expressed a need for this type of facility to accommodate all the tourism buses that come to Niagara Falls. I commend local economic development officials, particularly the Niagara County IDA, for understanding the strategic importance of this type of project and how it will drive economic activity to our community.”
About the Regional Economic Development Councils
The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of the State's approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, 10 Regional Councils were established to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom-up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. Learn more at regionalcouncils.ny.gov.
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NY” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.
Contact:
Pamm Lent (ESD) | [email protected] | (716) 846-8309 | (800) 260-7313
Laura Magee (ESD) | [email protected] | (716) 846-8239 | (800) 260-7313