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Discussion » Questions » Business » Do you know of any gas stations these days that DO NOT double as convenience stores/mini-markets? ~
Randy D

Do you know of any gas stations these days that DO NOT double as convenience stores/mini-markets? ~




It just occurred to me that every gas station I've been to over the past ten years or so also has a convenience store, and that many convenience stores also have gas pumps outside. Of course, while  not every convenience store is a gas station or had a gas station, it seems that every gas station has a convenience store or sells certain food and beverage products that are normally sold in convenience stores. 

Posted - October 21, 2017
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Responses


  • 2500
    Yes, actually. But they're few and far between.

    There's a 24/7/365 Liberty self-service station near where I live. Not counting the usual vending machine fare the only services that they offer during normal business hours are repair and maintenance on vehicles.

    Now that I think about it a couple of others come to mind that have a similar arrangement only with an attendant at all times (to take your money if you're sans plastic or to sell you a pack of cigarettes). The two of those that I can think of at the moment sit under BP signage. This post was edited by Salt and Red Pepper at October 21, 2017 6:14 PM MDT
      October 21, 2017 4:07 PM MDT
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  • 5354
    Nope, It seems to be that way here too.Small ones may have only a kiosk (tobacco, newspapers and porn), big ones are more like supermarkets, and may even have an affiliated restaurant nearby (out of stink range). This post was edited by JakobA the unAmerican. at October 21, 2017 6:16 PM MDT
      October 21, 2017 4:08 PM MDT
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  • 2500
    And how does having that kiosk with the mentioned items make it a convenience store? I remember gas stations from the days of 30¢/gallon gas having similar items available for sale.
      October 21, 2017 4:16 PM MDT
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  • 5354
    Just trying to point out that it depends on the size of the Gas ststion
      October 21, 2017 4:25 PM MDT
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  • 17487
    Yes.  When I was trying to get home after Irma and zigzagging across the state I saw some in the rural areas. This post was edited by Thriftymaid at October 21, 2017 6:20 PM MDT
      October 21, 2017 4:47 PM MDT
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  • 33031
    I know of one. It is a "truck center", it has like 10 pumps and a restroom. No workers at all, they are all pay at the pump.  
      October 21, 2017 5:50 PM MDT
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  • 13071
    I saw one about 8 years ago when we drove through South Carolina to visit my late husbands parents. It was in a rural area and it was self serve all the way. All you needed was a credit card. No people ran it. It was kind of creepy.
      October 21, 2017 6:15 PM MDT
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  • 5835
    I am also aware of a lot of convenience stores digging up their gas tanks and tearing out the pumps. They would rather have a parking lot.
      October 22, 2017 3:08 AM MDT
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  • 2500

    They would rather not have to pay the costs of installing EPA-compliant tanks with all the leakage monitoring. That gets to be REALLY expensive.
      October 22, 2017 4:25 AM MDT
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  • 5354
    Dont forget the long term cost of poisoning the ground with all those gaz additives
      October 22, 2017 4:35 AM MDT
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  • 2500
    Just like the gasoline itself those additives don't penetrate the tank wall unless the tank has rusted through from the outside. But that's the point. Underground metal storage tanks for liquid (at atmospheric temperatures) petroleum have been banned (they rust through creating the very real possibility of groundwater contamination) and can't be easily inspected on a periodic basis), They have to be replaced by a certain date (which may have already passed). So first is the cost of removing the old tanks and excavating and properly disposing of any contaminated dirt around the area if the tank has breached. Then there's the cost of purchasing and installing the new tanks, and the monitoring equipment, which is relatively inexpensive. But . . . each of those systems' manufacturers has to have a liability insurance policy that will remain in effect until the tanks are removed, even if the respective companies were to go out of business long before. And the station has to basically pay a "bond" (another insurance policy) that will guarantee the removal of the tanks should the station owner go out of business (ie. go bankrupt). It's those insurance policies and bonds that run the cost into the stratosphere and often make it too costly to continue to sell gasoline. So far as I know the only "safe" tanks that can be buried these days are LP tanks.

    That's why even for standby generator service the tanks are almost always above ground, either in the form of a "base" tank or a stand-alone tank. And they have to be double-walled with a leakage monitoring system. Here's one of my favorites:

    https://www.convault.com/Photos
     This post was edited by Salt and Red Pepper at October 22, 2017 11:54 AM MDT
      October 22, 2017 11:48 AM MDT
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  • 22891
    no, ive never seen one of those
      October 22, 2017 4:33 PM MDT
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