Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center

7-T Truck Stop
Diana and Johnny Emery, Owners
Ola, Arkansas

Diana and Johnny Emery are no strangers to business ownership. Johnny has owned his own logging company for years. Then, in January 2007, the Emerys had the opportunity to purchase the Ola Superette which they turned into 7-T Truck Stop. Sitting on 3.6 acres at the intersection of Highway 7 and Highway 10, 7-T Truck Stop offers over 12,000 square feet of convenience store, kitchen, deli with inside seating, and an additional space for retail leasing.

To make the business purchase possible, Diana Emery contacted Robert Laster with First State Bank in Russellville, who referred her to the UA Fort Smith SBDC for assistance with a business valuation in anticipation of a SBA-guaranteed loan. Vonelle Vanzant, Center Director at the UA Fort Smith SBDC, prepared the valuation report. After evaluating SBA options, First State Bank contacted Six Bridges Capital Corporation (6BCC) about the possibility of a SBA 504 loan. 6BCC agreed to participate in the 504 loan, which closed with First State Bank in September for $1,778,000. Twenty jobs were retained in this small town, and the Emerys are well into the transition as owners of yet another rural Arkansas business.

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The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration through a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business and other institutions of higher education. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. It is the goal of UALR to eliminate discriminatory harassment and to promote equal opportunity regardless of race, gender, color, national origin, sexual orientation, age, religion, veteran's status, or disability.