For years, locals have wondered when a truck stop would take up residence at the intersection of the Opp by-pass and U.S. Hwy. 331.

Now, according to Mayor H.D. Edgar, the wait is over – 2011 will be the year growth hits the by-pass.

Edgar said the city is currently negotiating with a developer who will construct a “travel plaza” at the intersection.

“It’s going to be one of those truck stops you see,” he said. “It will have a restaurant, a hotel and a store. We’re really close on closing on the deal, and it looks like we’ll be able to get all the pieces of the puzzle to fit.”

The estimated $2.5 million facility is expected to open in the summer “right where the palm trees are,” Edgar said.

“We hope that when other retailers see this growth, it will start a domino effect,” he said.

In 2010, Opp got word the Micholas Mill would close at the middle of this month, but it was also the year it was announced Custom Collars would expand its workforce from eight to 25-30 and make a new home in one of the city’s spec buildings.

“We’ve been trying to get new jobs in Opp since the beginning,” Edgar said. “We went from have no available spec buildings for industry to having three. We need to get those three filled. We’re going to keep working steadily on that in 2011.”