Iowa truck stop restroom finalist for best in nation

WALCOTT, Iowa — It stands to reason: The world’s largest truck stop also has a pretty good restroom.In fact, it has two outstanding places for when nature calls and you’re on Interstate 80 near the Quad-Cities.At least, that is according to a national contest now in progress. The Iowa 80 TruckStop in Walcott is among 10 finalists in “America’s Best Public Restroom Contest.” The competition is sponsored by Cincinnati-based Cintas Corp., which makes restroom supplies and other products.“The men’s room features nostalgic signs of oil companies, tires, a gas station-type feel,” said Heather DeBaillie, marketing manager at the truck stop.The women’s restroom plays off the World’s Largest Truckstop theme. “It features big custom artwork, little factoids, like the most expensive pair of jeans or the world’s largest purse,” she said.People can vote online. The deadline is July 31.“We are anxiously awaiting the winner to be announced in August,” DeBaillie said. “It’s really been fun. It is a fun competition. We’re excited to be nominated. We are very proud, honored.”DeBaillie said Cintas had open nominations in February from the general public and several people nominated Iowa 80. Then, a couple of weeks ago, Cintas advised the truckstop that it was in the Top 10 field.Other finalists offer such features as a mirrored waterfall with a built-in television, one-way mirrors facing the urinals, and screens with traveling images of eyes built into a mirror. The Brio Restaurant in Rockford, Ill., offers a women’s restroom themed as heaven and a men’s restroom themed as hell.Cintas is a major player in the corporate identity uniform industry. The company provides services to businesses of all types throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire protection services and document management services to approximately 800,000 businesses.More than 5,000 people per day visit the Iowa 80 Truck Stop, DeBaillie said.She said the truck stop offer hundreds of amenities, from fuel, food, truck washes, a truck museum, a dentist, among other services and stores.Last July, the facility underwent a makeover. Changes included expansion of the food court, where Taco Bell and Pizza Hut restaurants were added to the existing Dairy Queen and Wendy’s, she said. In addition, she said the gift store was expanded and a super truck showroom with more than 50,000 items that people can purchase for semi-trailers was added. The showroom features three real semis, including one on a turntable, she said.At the same time, the owners decided to redo the two main restrooms. “They were just regular restrooms, no particular design or decor,” she said. “So, we thought it was time to expand the restrooms and we said, ‘Let’s make this more than boring tile.’ ”But it’s not just about the design, which she said they are very proud of.“They keep them clean. Every half-hour they clean them, which is almost constant. So, hats off to our cleaning staff. We have 25 housekeepers on staff.”

Your vote countsTo vote for America’s Best Public Restroom, go to bestrestroom.com. Deadline for voting is July 31