New Development To Bring Travel Center & Restaurants to Mercedes

One of the nation’s premier fuel distributors will develop and open a 12,000-square-foot travel center in Mercedes – a first of its kind in the Rio Grande Valley.

Victron Energy, Inc., plans to break ground on the project this summer and open its travel center in early 2023. The center will include a Wendy’s in addition to a gift shop, a stylish food-and-snacks store, with large and clean bathrooms to include showers. A Chick-fil-A will open next door to the travel center. The entire development will be located along Expressway 83 and in close proximity to the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets and the La Quinta Inn & Suites.

“It’s a wonderful location,’’ said Mohamed Sharaf, Victron’s vice president for development, who will also be the travel center’s owner. “It’s close to two major airports and the outlet mall. I can’t think of a better location.’’

Sharaf said his travel center will “have more products, clean bathrooms, and be a place you can go to any time of day.’’ The center will feature numerous gas pumps to fuel up. It will be reminiscent of a Buc-ee’s, Sharaf said, with a look and design that will reflect the ranching history and livestock shows of Mercedes.

“This is a community I wanted to invest in,’’ Sharaf said. “Mercedes is pro-business. Everyone in the city has been nothing but kind and accommodating to what we want to do.’’

Family-Based Company

Victron Energy is a privately held company based in Waxahachie in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The company is a major fuel distributor for ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, Texaco and Conoco. Victron owns numerous convenience stores across Texas and is active in retail and property development. The company is known for its superior customer service and “providing a small family-owned feel that is rare for such a large state-wide company,’’ Victron’s website states. Exxon has recognized Victron as being a platinum performer and Shell awarded the company the distinction of being a gold tier performer.

Sharaf’s father, Ali Sharaf, founded the company in 1986 with the acquisition of a single convenience store. From that start – and through hard work and determination – Ali Sharaf built and grew a company with a diverse business portfolio that sees Mercedes as a great place to invest.

“It speaks to the strength of Mercedes that companies and businesses want to invest here,’’ Mohamad Sharaf said. “Sometimes it takes one person to make that first big step to invest as we’re doing in Mercedes. I believe it will bring more opportunities for Mercedes.’’

Mercedes Mayor Oscar Montoya said the travel center will bring visitors and business from other communities and markets to the Mid-Valley city. Victron’s development will bring additional energy to the business growth that Mercedes is already seeing, the mayor said.

“This will be a great addition to Mercedes and the area along the expressway near the mall,’’ Montoya said. “The city has a lot to offer and we have more land along the expressway for even more development.’’

• Ricardo D. Cavazos