FRANKLIN—Love continues to grow in the city.

Earlier this week, the property deal for the new Love’s Travel Stop was concluded, said Amanda Jarratt, president and chief executive officer of the Franklin-Southampton Economic Development.

On April 30, Jarratt and city officials announced the national chain was looking to make a home in the city.

According to its website, www.loves.com, Love’s Travel Stops include food from a national restaurant chain, trucking supplies, convenience center, tire center, filling station and truck station.

The $7 million investment is expected to create 50 new jobs for the area.

“It’s going really well,” said Jarratt. “We’re in the process of finalizing of agreements on the utilities infratructure. There’s some cost-sharing with the city, and that includes upsizing a 12-water line that will come down College Drive and run down South Street.”

She added that an advantage to that line is that residents will also benefit by the improved water service.

Loggers are expected to arrive within the month and start clearing the property, Jarratt said. However, construction’s still not expected to begin until year’s end or early January.

The location is a 20-acre tract on South Street, close to the Highway 58 bypass. Travel South Street toward Murfreesboro, N.C., and the land is on the left just before the highway exit.

John Janson LLC, bought 62 acres from Mid-Atlantic Development, said Jarratt, and Love’s purchased its 20-acre parcel from Janson.

The developer and the city will share in the cost of making a connector road, which will be a corridor for traffic to and from Pretlow.