Hilda Voisin Buquet
August 25, 2009
Mary Little McFarland
August 27, 2009
Owners of Thibodaux-based Waguespack Oil Company and the local Wag-A-Pak fueling stations have finally mastered the food, fuel and fun trifecta with its Louisiana Hwy. 3185 truck stop location in Thibodaux.
The Waguespack family opened its first Wag-A-Pak fueling station on Hwy. 3185 in 1981. Facility manager Sheri Waguespack Broussard said the small building was at the corner of Hwy. 3185 and Talbot Avenue.
Twenty-eight years later, the fueling station has moved just a parking lot over from its original spot and has transformed into Wag-A-Pak Truck Stop.
The new facility was the brainchild of brothers Al and Eric Waguespack, local businessmen and co-owners of Waguespack Oil Company. However, the day-to-day operations of the truck stop will be left up to Al’s children, Broussard and her brother Steven Waguespack.
The new convenience store was the first phase of the truck stop. “With the new convenience store, the store area has more than doubled, allowing for a variety of more products on the shelves,” Broussard said. “The store is open around the clock and serves customers with ConocoPhillips fuel and diesel, as well as a variety of hotbox item, and necessities like bread, milk, etc.”
The store is open 24 hours, seven days a week. In the mornings, store visitors can get meat and egg biscuits or breakfast egg rolls. For lunch and dinner, they can enjoy some Krispy Krunchy fried chicken, meat pies, corn dogs, jambalaya, fries and more.
Truckers, who frequent the establishment, can also earn “Wag Cash” for every 50 or 100 gallon diesel fill-up. The “Wag Cash” can go towards their favorite hotbox item.
A major update from the old store, Broussard said, is the beer cave. The walk-in beer cave maintains a constant temperature of 28 degrees, colder than ice. Broussard said customers can “serve themselves by picking up their favorite packs of beer that are already chilled.”
Not long after the store opened in February, the second phase of the truck stop opened-the Bypass Fiesta Grill, a Mexican-American restaurant that serves authentic Mexican dishes along with hamburgers, sandwiches and poboys.
The restaurant is owned by Fernando and Maria Sanchez. The 60-seat restaurant offers both dine in and take-out, Monday-Sunday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The final phase of the Wag-A-Pak Truck Stop was complete when the Cash Wag’n Casino opened August 7. The casino is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, and has the latest in the video gaming industry.
“With new machines such as Royal Touch, Sweet Deals and Gamblers Edge to complement the older machines that everyone is accustomed to, it’s sure to be an entertaining experience,” Broussard said.
Reliable Amusement Company partnered with the Waguespack family in developing the whole casino concept.
Reliable Amusement has operated gaming machines in the Thibodaux area for over 11 years. Broussard said this is the company’s third truck stop casino in the area. The gaming area features 35 video poker devices. David Tullos of Reliable Amusement was responsible for the design of the casino area.
Trying to appeal to the likes and dislikes of a large population, the casino offers areas for smokers and non-smoking customers.
Reliable Amusement experimented with the concept in its Labadieville casino, and it has proven to be highly popular.
“The non-smoking section is very popular to those who are sensitive to the smell of smoke and don’t wish for it to be on their clothes after leaving an establishment where smoking is permitted throughout,” she said. “By accommodating both the smokers and non-smokers, we feel like we’ve created the most comfortable atmosphere for those who enjoy playing video poker.
With the trifecta complete, Broussard said the entire family is proud of the new facility.
“Wag-A-Pak Truck Stop employs approximately 30 people,” she said. “The original convenience store employed three; this facility helped 27 other people in the community find work.
“Also, the location of the truck stop is very beneficial to the households nearby. By offering hot food, milk, bread and more, our neighbors can count on us for their necessities.”
Wag-A-Pak Inc. fueling stations have been in the Waguespack family since 1981. Third generation offspring Sheri Waguespack Broussard and her brother Steven Waguespack run the family’s newest venture, a truck stop/video casino located on Louisiana Hwy. 3185 in Thibodaux.* Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN
