Mastodon Market opens

After a couple of years of anticipation, the wait is finally over for motorists and residents in Braidwood.
Mastodon Market officially opened its doors to throngs of customers at 6 a.m. Monday, to its new location on Coal City Road and Route 113.
To celebrate the opening, the convenience store is offering 89-cent Big Splash fountain drinks just in time to help customers survive the predicted heat wave.
The new travel center is a full-service destination featuring Mastodon Kitchen, Mastodon Market, Mastodon Wash, fuel services and Fossil Fuel Coffee Co.
The store will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while the automated car wash will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., weather permitting.
The development also includes a casual restaurant serving gourmet pizzas, made-to-order breakfast and lunch sandwiches—including the signature Sabertooth Sandwich—and the specialty Mastodon Pizza, topped with macaroni and cheese and pulled pork.
The convenience store features traditional mini-mart offerings, a spacious beer cave, and delivery and pick-up services.
Truckers have access to four dedicated diesel fueling lanes, while motorists can take advantage of 14 standard gasoline pumps and the automated exterior car wash.
There was some speculation on whether Mastodon Market would open in June. In May, owner Dave Smith expressed frustration over the Illinois Dept. of Transportation’s (IDOT) procrastination in giving Ridgeway Petroleum a green light to open the station.
Though there are still traffic issues to iron out, for the time being the station is open for business.
Construction of the new station has been closely followed by the community since ground was broke in 2024. The development represents a significant commercial investment in Braidwood and is expected to provide a new fuel and convenience stop for local residents as well as travelers along the Interstate 55 corridor.
The company has promoted the opening with the message, "The long wait is finally over," signaling the completion of a project that has generated considerable red tape.
“It’s revenue for me, and it’s revenue for the City of Braidwood and its residents,” Smith said in May. “It’s gonna be great.”