On Milton travel center likely to remain cut off from pending bypass

Posted on October 20 at 8:07 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Thank you to those who have shown support for MTC and for those who posted that the owner should have known more, you are right. I have known the owner for years and have been involved in many of his business development at MTC, going back to plans for adding the McDonalds and the Carwash. At that time, we were told that an interchange, just south of the store, was part of the plan. Even the maps the owner saw gave him that impression. It wasn't to our meeting in August that he truely understood how screwed he was. Should he had know, YES, but should have more State Contact been done, YES! If you think the information was so easy to understand, why has the entire neighborhood, west of the store been coming to us saying they had no idea. These will be hugely affected, they will have to go out of their way to get on Hwy 26, to go to Janesville. Just is bigger than just one business. Most people don't read the papers or attend City or DOT meetings. There should have been better comunication to the residents and businesses of Milton.

As for the posts about MTC being online for sale, this is true. Keep in mind, the economic crash of 2008 hurt many businesses and the Gasoline/Convenience store industry has had a very hard time, dealing with less business and tighter margins. Those who haven't adapted, have closed. Several C-stores are on the market, many have just closed. I have been in this industry for several years, I have never seen retail business this tough in years. Everyone is struggling, even those who are not in business.

So everyone understands, we are not going anywhere. We are at this time remarketing the MTC, with new lower Cigarette pricing to start. We are looking at a new grocery wholesaler who will bring a new mix to our store. As we move forward, we are looking at new services, DVD Rentals, Money Orders and more. Coming soon, we will be upgrading our Coffee and Fountain Beverage Centers, adding some new fast food items also and for those health nuts, some new stuff for you, yeah at at a gas station, LOL!

We are planning on becoming a Neighborhood Convenience store. We will loose traffic with the closing of Hwy 26 at our location, estimates are 50 to 60%, but I am hoping to keep that to 25% and by lowering our expenses, creating new revenues, we will continue to be a part of Milton.

As we go forward, we will continue to be part of Milton. We will continue to look at our options. Ideally, it would be nice if we could move our operations closer to where the traffic will be, the Hwy 59, but only with help from the DOT or the State. It makes more sense at this time to take our resources and look at adding a few more stores, that will make up what we will loose in Milton. Everyday, we are approached with new opportunities.

So that everyone understands, we are not going out of business and in the next few months, you will see some great specials as we thank our loyal Milton customers.

On Work under way on Milton bypass, Highway 26 expansion

Posted on August 16 at 11:34 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

I am a very good friend of the owner of the Milton Travel Center in Milton, located at corner of Arthur and the current HWY 26. Amin has put alot of work into this station, adding new pumps, a McDonalds, a carwash and completely remodeling of this store.

He was never contacted by anyone from the City of Milton( Jerry Schuetz) and State of Wisconsin, as he believed the bridges just south of the store would have offramps. He was completely mislead.

Yesterday, we were looking at details and they have put his gas station on a Island, with a service road running to his station off of the newly expanded Henke Road.

As anyone will tell you, especially in Gas Station/ Convenience Store business, location is everything and Amin has been robbed by Milton and the State of Wisconsin. When completed, the new Bypass 26 will take all of his traffic away from him, probably loosing him 50% of his business.

How is that improved MR Schuetz!! You and the DOT have completely screwed this hard working business man!

I am writing these commits to both the Beloit News and to Janesville Gazzette, in the hopes both news papers will do some reporting on this!

This is what was written in the Janesville Gazette May 16th, 2012:

One business would be the Milton Travel Center and McDonald's, which is on the corner of the current Highway 26 and Arthur Drive on the far southeast side. There, the bypass will route Highway 26 along with the main stream of traffic just east of the gas station, leaving it an island of sorts.

This was in an article they wrote on the new Bypass 26, never once did they stop in to see how it really will effect this mans business!

I will hope, that Milton and the State of Wisconsin will help find a remedy to this gross anti business atmosphere.

I graduated with Scott Walker and I was very proud when he was elected governor, especially when he said this state was open for business, I have never been so disappointed in our State. All businesses, all sizes need to be treated with respect and not destroyed!