Caldwell's Sage Travel Plaza expected to close Dec. 1, employees say

Sage Travel Plaza in Caldwell is expected to shut its doors permanently on Dec. 1, employees say, ending a business that has served travelers and commuters for decades. The anticipated closure follows the sale of the 3.22-acre property on Franklin Road for $5.5 million.

Cody Tipton, who has worked at the plaza for four years, said the property had been listed for sale throughout his employment, leaving workers aware that a closure could eventually follow. He said the store is closing after 89 years and that new ownership will take over. For Tipton, the transition marks the end of a valued period in his life and the beginning of another.

Tipton and assistant Jayce Knutson described the business as a community gathering spot whose significance extends beyond fuel and convenience store purchases. Some customers, they said, have connections to the plaza that reach across generations. Knutson pointed to an employee who ate at the cafe as a child with his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents before eventually coming to work there.

Serving those customers and the wider community has been a highlight of the job for Tipton. He said the business has held yard sales in its parking lot to benefit people with disabilities and helped people experiencing homelessness get access to a hot shower. More recently, staff cared for a customer's dog for a week.

Those experiences gave the work meaning beyond supporting his family of six, Tipton said. He described helping people during difficult times as an important part of his and Knutson's experience at the plaza, allowing them to demonstrate care and respect for the community around them.

What comes next for the property remains uncertain. Although speculation about the site has appeared on social media, neither employees nor the city have confirmed whether the travel plaza will be demolished. The new owner's eventual plans also remain unconfirmed.

Meanwhile, Tipton and Knutson say they are submitting a proposal and application for a restaurant on a lot near the old station. Their proposed business would be a 1950s-style diner centered on classic desserts. They hope the location would continue to give truckers convenient access to a warm meal.

As they pursue that possibility, the pair are preparing to leave a workplace they associate with longstanding customer relationships and opportunities to help others. Dec. 1 remains the expected final day for customers to shop or buy fuel at Sage Travel Plaza.