Oct 7, 2004 11:19 AM, from staff and wire reports

TravelCenters of America (TA) plans to acquire the 11 interstate travel centers owned by Truck Service Center Inc (Rip Griffin) in a move that will strengthen TA’s position in the full-service travel center industry.

TA’s purchase of the Rip Griffin travel centers in Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, and Arkansas will expand the TA network to 160 locations across the United States and Canada.

B R “Rip” Griffin, chief executive officer and founder of Rip Griffin, said, “Over 40 years ago, I began this company with a three-pump gasoline station. It has since grown to a $250 million organization serving thousands of professional drivers and highway travelers in the American Southwest.”

Rip Griffin employees will be offered positions with TA. The sale does not include the Rip Griffin off-interstate travel center properties or gasoline convenience store sites across Texas.