The large Love’s Travel Stop and Country Store on Edwin C. Moses Boulevard near Interstate 75 opened Thursday for business.

The 7,851-square-foot convenience store was selling a wide variety of food, drinks, gift items, travel materials and clothing Thursday, with 16 gas pumps open in front, and an eight-bay truck fueling station open behind the store.

The Hardee’s restaurant, which has a drive through and seats about 60 inside, will open for business at 10:30 a.m. Friday and remain open 24 hours a day after that, according to Robert Hensman, director of Midwest travel stop operations for Love’s.

Hensman said the final piece of the Travel Stop will open Monday, when the tire shop for tractor-trailers needing repair begins operations. Love’s has hired 55 for the facility.

“We’re very excited to be in Dayton; it’s a great community … and it’s a great traffic pattern with I-70 and I-75 being right next to us,” Hensman said. “We’re excited the community has embraced us here and we look forward to serving them for many years to come.”

The 24-hour truck stop with parking for 100 tractor-trailers sits on an 18-acre site just a quarter-mile west of UD Arena. Some people worry about an increase in traffic congestion on UD basketball game nights, when 12,000-plus fans drive to the Arena.

“We can’t control what happens in the street, but our security guards are aware that we need to keep traffic moving in an out as much as possible,” Hensman said. “We want to welcome the UD fans. We’re excited to have them.”