Spring Valley Subway: Five years in the making

• In progress

Eric Huppert was busy operating the backhoe as excavation work for the new Subway Restaurant at Team Oil Travel Center in Spring Valley was underway last week. -- Photo by Vicky Howe

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SPRING VALLEY--Eric and Tony Huppert, the owners of the Team Oil Travel Center in Spring Valley, began the construction of their next project last week by taking “Bessy,” the Team mascot, off the roof.

The Hupperts had met with the Subway Restaurant chain regional director five years ago in 2006 and the Team Oil site was approved for a franchise. The idea of getting an internationally known food franchise to compliment the internationally known tourist attractions of Spring Valley--Crystal Cave, Spring Valley Dam, Cady Cheese and Vino in the Valley--was met with positive anticipation by Subway management in 2006 and even more in 2011.

The Hupperts wanted their last expansion--the car wash, WESTconsin Credit Union suite, maintenance shop and office--to be completed and operational before the Subway addition. It includes a dining area for 40, new restrooms, expansion of the convenience store and an 18-by-20 foot retail lease area.

The Subway franchise is owned by Eric Huppert. He and Carrie Vanasse (head of operations) have spent over 20 hours each doing online testing, plus both have been working shifts at a Subway in River Falls before and after working their shifts at the Team Oil Travel Center to become more familiar with Subway procedures.

Eric Huppert will be spending two weeks at Subway owner school in Connecticut this fall learning the intense Subway procedure and guidelines.

Vanasse is a senior at UW-River Falls. Her position was created to allow Tony Huppert, Eric Huppert’s father and co-owner, to have more time to focus on what he does (nobody knows for sure exactly what that is, but they know it is very important.)

Cleary Building Corporation is the general contractor for the new addition. Doug Peterson, Cleary’s branch manager in Ellsworth, will be overseeing the construction. The Hupperts agree Cleary Building Corporation’s people have been a pleasure to work with. The complexity of this project has been met with professionalism and expertise from all of Cleary Building’s personnel and subcontractors.

The Team Oil management team is hoping for a completion date in late 2011 and an opening date sometime in January 2012. The retail suite in the new addition will be located between the convenience store and the Subway seating area and, at this time, it is still available for lease.

Eric Huppert said, “We are looking for just the right business that will offer something we don’t already have that our customers will really appreciate.”

The Hupperts said they would like to get the project completed before renting out any retail space unless someone comes in with a great idea and wants to secure it before completion.

The Team Oil Travel Center will continue normal hours through construction, 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., 365 days a year. Stop in and watch the progress.

Tags: business announcements, spring valley, business