Do you remember the "good ol' days" when gas stations were gas stations; when you pulled up to a pump and waited while an attendant came out from a small office to greet you and pump the gas. Sometimes the attendant also checked the tires and the oil and often washed the windows.
Those days are long gone. This picture symbolizes our current state of affairs. As you can see, this place looks more like a small convenience store than a gas station. If you want your tires and/or oil checked and your windows washed, you do that yourself.
But there's more. I didn't photograph the entire building. To the right of what you see there is a restaurant with inside and outside tables. In front of the building and out of sight there are about 10 gas pumps which are almost always in use.
Another strange thing is that these places are allowed to sell beer and wine. That makes no sense considering the problems we have with people driving under the influence of alcohol.
At one time, if I recall correctly, this was a Shell station, then it became a Kangaroo station, then a Shell station again, and now it's a Circle K station. What will it be in its next incarnation? Only Dick Cheney knows.
15 comments:
I love the red roof. In Poland a gas station is a typical store with a restaurant.... in Europe is the same
Photo won't download; I'll be back.
Same deal here. Our Circle K gas stations looks very similar to yours.
And remember how the attendants wore uniforms! Times have certainly changed.
When I was in high school I worked in my dad's gas station, doing all the things that you mentioned. One time I waited on a car and while the driver (male) used the restroom his lady stayed in the car. They were from California and this was in North Dakota. The woman was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. I often wonder if she noticed how diligently I washed her side of the windshield.
I remember Circle K when I lived in Oregon but it did not have a gas station/pumps. The big grocery chains added gas pumps at their stores, Safeway, Fred Meyer and of course Walmart and Sam's Club. Depending on how much you spent in their stores, you would get so many points and then you could get a discount on the price you pay for gas when you hit the magic number they set. Spend $100 and get so many points and then you give your card to the man in the booth, he scans it and then the discount is applied. It really wasn't a great discount, say 5-10 cents off the price of a gallon. Tuesdays were double points. See what your photo did to my memory. :)
Unfortunately my parents never had a car when I was a little girl, so we always used public transportation. Mostly the bus. I do recall seeing the old service stations, though, and how they served the customers, and even would wash the car windows, too. On the whole, I do miss those times, Lowell. Customer service was at its best, and much more important than it is today. Sadly, these days you can walk into a store and it is difficult to find anyone to help you if you need it, there just isn't enough staff. And the staff that is there just don't care and act as if you are bothering them if you have a question.
You're surprised? It's all about getting you to stop and spend money. Who cares about what kind of experience you have as along as you deposit the dollars. But don't worry. The Donald is going to make America great again so it'll be fine. And I'm sure he condemned service free gas stations during the campaign.
In India we still have attendants filling up gas, washing windshields, checking oil levels and filling air in fuel stations which incidentally also have convenience stores.
Gas is at such a low price that the store must sell other products to stay in business. The service is long gone. It is too expensive for the station to maintain, but they can provide may other things to buy that keeps them in business.
Kangaroo Express.. Australian owners? No more service here either Lowell, although I did notice when we were traveling through the small country towns you do get z bit more attention 😊
P.s. thanks so much for the positive comments on my photographs Lowell, means a lot.
Those Circle K stores must be just about everywhere by now. I remember those old days. In Oregon, all the stations still have attendants that pump the gas for you and will check the oil if you ask them to. It's a state law, I guess. It makes travel there even nicer.
I have some fond memories of going to get gas with my dad. He always went to the same place and they always greeted us with big smiles and friendly service. I remember the pop machine looked like a huge freezer with sliding doors on top and the bottles of pop sat in cold water inside. Thanks for the memories.
It isn't done here anymore either. Those Circle Ks haven't made it up here (that I know of), but most stations all make their money based on whatever they're selling inside, not on the gas.
I like the vivid colors of the photo. In my part of the world Circle K is a simple convenience store. It became a part of FamilyMart, Japanese convenience store franchise chain, by absorption-type merger.
Have happy days ahead with your family, Lowell!
Yoko
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