The City of Austin celebrated the official opening of the newly-rebuilt Fuel Mart, 145 N. Dowling St., on Austin’s westside on March 11 – and received a surprise when Ports Petroleum Co. President Matt Ports presented a $10,000 donation to the Jennings Township Volunteer Fire Department.
“Our fire department is all volunteer, so this donation was incredibly meaningful. It’s a service to the community, and we are grateful,” City of Austin Mayor Roger Hawkins said.
The rebuild process of Fuel Mart began in 2020 after the company acquired additional land that had been dormant for years, Hawkins said. “The project would have never happened without the leadership of my team. Clerk-treasurer Chris Fugate was integral, as was the Austin Redevelopment Commission, particularly President Richie Buchanan. Together, we worked with Ports Petroleum to get this top of the line, modern truck stop here in Austin.”
Fuel Mart, which has a long history in the community, will now fill a void that offers residents and passersby far more than fuel. The $10 million full rebuild, which is easily accessible from I-65, is 7,000 square feet on 9 acres and features a dog park, pond, CAT scales, diesel, diesel exhaust fluid, showers, retail, and numerous food options. Other offerings will materialize in the near future as well.
“The Ports Petroleum and Fuel Mart teams are incredibly excited about the re-opening of the Austin truck stop,” said Ports. “The location has been meaningful to us since we started business there in 1989, and we’re proud to bring a refreshed look and updated offerings to the Austin community and travelers passing through. In addition to the new Subway, Hunt Brothers Pizza, and BBQ sandwiches in the store, we continue to provide top quality fuel options for all travelers, including a new Unleaded 88 option to help save a few dollars on the next fill up.”