Living Car Free - Disappearing gas stations

Not sure how many carfree would notice the recent elimination of gas stations, but--

I was wondering if anyone else noticed that gas stations are closing. In my area an Exxon and a BP closed in the past few months. Or are any being built?

yes. they are tearing the small ones down and replacing them with larger ones that pretty much have a small grocery store, and fastfood restaraunts inside.

I've noticed a few Burger Kings losing out to more "upscale" fast food joints, like Chipotle Burritos, Wahoos Fish Tacos, Starbucks, etc.

It's probably the local franchise companies leases coming up. Not complaining, I like the latter much better.

prolly going upscale because they can't make money selling gas anymore. the profit margin on retail gas must be tiny these days, and it will continue to squeeze.

prolly going upscale because they can't make money selling gas anymore. the profit margin on retail gas must be tiny these days, and it will continue to squeeze.

Got that right! I have a friend that manages a Hess station. She says the profit on gas is only about $.05 a gallon. They make most of their money on sodas, beer and cigarettes. Along with all of the other healthy stuff they sell;) This particular one also has a Blimpie's Sub shop inside.

Aaron:)

One nice thing about being carfree, hence gas station free: No - I don't want a fricking car wash, just release the pump so I can fill up.

haven't seen too many close up, but they change corporate hands frequently.

They're fast disappearing in my neighborhood. There used to be four stations, Arco, Exxon, Mobil and an independent, on the corners not far from my house. Now, only the Arco is left. All the others have been replaced by remodled shopping centers offering grocery stores, dry cleaners, tailors, restaurants both independent and chain types, barber and beauty shops along with other services. Makes walking or biking a dream.

I met a guy that used to own a gas station... he got out of the business when he realized the credit companies were making more than twice what he was on 'his' gas station.

I met a guy that used to own a gas station... he got out of the business when he realized the credit companies were making more than twice what he was on 'his' gas station.

That part of it amuses me in a sick sort of way...Everybody and their brother was screaming bloody murder about the high prices after Katrina. Getting all bent out of shape about oil company profits...yada, yada, yada. But I didn't see too many articles about the 79 Billion dollars that credit card companies and banks raked in in fees and interest. IIRC the made over 3.5 billion profit just on the increase in the gas prices and sales after Katrina...One of the reasons I try to pay cash for everything and patronize small businesses. America was built by small businesses and they still hire 75% of the workers today...at least for the time being.

Aaron:)

One of the reasons I try to pay cash for everything and patronize small businesses. Paying with cash at a gas station puts you in the slow line inside the station standing behind the cigarette, chips and lottery ticket crowd. Credit card; pay at the pump and be on your way. Take your pick.

Paying with cash at a gas station puts you in the slow line inside the station standing behind the cigarette, chips and lottery ticket crowd. Credit card; pay at the pump and be on your way. Take your pick.

The damn gas stations around here shut the pumps off at $35-$50 my fill ups can run over $100 so I have to go inside anyways. And it seems that about half the time the automatic card sucking pumps aren't working...so you get the trip inside....again. Solution...ride/drive something that doesn't require fuel:p

Aaron:)

This has to be an illusion caused by relocation of stations. The only way there could be fewer stations is if:

There were fewer cars on the road
There were amazing increases in fuel efficiency
People were willing to wait in long lines for fuel
Fueling was more efficient

Of these factors, only the last seems to apply a little. The big box stores are selling gas now with something like a half dozen stalls, credit card activated machines, and a roving attendant.

This has to be an illusion caused by relocation of stations. The only way there could be fewer stations is if:

There were fewer cars on the road
There were amazing increases in fuel efficiency
People were willing to wait in long lines for fuel
Fueling was more efficient

Of these factors, only the last seems to apply a little. The big box stores are selling gas now with something like a half dozen stalls, credit card activated machines, and a roving attendant.


There are fewer stations. What is happening is that the remaining stations are adding more pumps. Its not uncommon around north ATL suburbs to see stations with 14+ pumps now rather than the older stations that had maybe 4-6 pumps.

In my small 2500 pop town in the mid west there used to
be 7 gas stations along the state route through town.
Now there are none.

They have all been replaced by 2 mini-marts. There is now
only 2 car dealers (that are struggling to survive) left to
get work done on cars.

Pay at the pump systems have to be the worst nightmare for station owners. No reason to go inside so you are less likely to buy snacks. And with higher gas prices taking a bigger bite, no money to buy them!

The stations I see going out of business are older out-dated ones that have limited offerings inside.

I buy gas at Costco.

It's usually about the same price as, or less than, the cost of gas at the other stations around here. They only have the credit card system there.

funny how there is such intimate knowledge about retail gas purchasing in the car-free forum :rolleyes:

There is a BP on Long Island that closed last summer
and a Getty closed , but the Getty is reopened "under new Management"

I used to be a gas jockey and our owners were quite open about the fact that they made more money on confectionaries than they did on gasoline.

Paying with cash at a gas station puts you in the slow line inside the station standing behind the cigarette, chips and lottery ticket crowd. Credit card; pay at the pump and be on your way. Take your pick.

I believe he was moreso making a statement of conviction. Convictions stand true in the face of opposition. Your point was void. :)

I, personally, gladly spend more money to support smaller businesses. I've taken a complete reverse from a few years ago where I only shopped at locations that would accept my American Express card.

funny how there is such intimate knowledge about retail gas purchasing in the car-free forum :rolleyes:


yeah !

This is BS !!!!!!!!

I believe he was moreso making a statement of conviction. Convictions stand true in the face of opposition. Your point was void. :)
And what conviction would that be? Maybe a man of REAL convictions would only pay in gold dust or beaver pelts.

funny how there is such intimate knowledge about retail gas purchasing in the car-free forum :rolleyes:

Not really the damn stations are everywhere. Maybe the dude with the high gas bills has to do it for work.

Around here the bigest grocery store, Giant Eagle, gives a gas discount. And that has really irritated the gas station owners. You can get a $1 or more off, per gallon for up to 30 gallens a week if you buy a lot of groceries. That seems unfair to the car-free. Unless you go to the "get Go" store and resell your discount.

I think that fewer gas stations are better for bikes. Eventially there are going to be long lines again.

The big bird's fuel perk program (http://www.gianteagle.com/main/article13.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=1149587&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1109577&bmUID=1173217830859&WebLogicSession=Re3iJnsY8EAtEFPK20EtAZX9UWB5m5ex3j4mNg4qagbP68sT5jcJQ3onrs1VvlYzzA9dvwuzeDA3|5459484 880285922598/-1408214167/5/7005/7005/7002/7002/-1|-4722967723249601965/-1408214166/5/7005/7005/7002/7002/-1|5459484880286053244)

BTW the Exxon that closed its doors is going to be a Walgreens, without pumps. Not sure what is going to become of the BP, it is in a decent retail area.

yeah !

This is BS !!!!!!!!

Yeah!!!

And what about people posting with car brands in their user name?

BS!!!!

p.s. Many gas stations disapperaed in CA when they were required to upgrade to new tanks.

And what conviction would that be?

Refer to his post.


Maybe a man of REAL convictions would only pay in gold dust or beaver pelts.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/conviction) defines a conviction as "a fixed or firm belief". What is the difference between a "real" and "fake" conviction?

Refer to his post.



Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/conviction) defines a conviction as "a fixed or firm belief". What is the difference between a "real" and "fake" conviction?
You might want to look up the word sarcasm; maybe obtuse, as well.

You might want to look up the word sarcasm; maybe obtuse, as well.
And you could look up discourteous and inflammatory.

I prefer this pump (http://www.futuregringo.com/vedauwoo/oldgaspump1.jpg) anyday.

Why is there a discussion about buying gas in the car-free forum? Especially from people spendnig $100+ per tank...

are you lost?

Why is there a discussion about buying gas in the car-free forum? Especially from people spendnig $100+ per tank...

are you lost?
Maybe because somebody started a thread about it and others were interested enough to comment.

And here is an educated guess newsflash: a goodly percentage of the posters on this list buy gasoline on occasion either for the vehicle they own or one they rent or borrow. I suspect the non purchasers of vehicle fuel on this list can be counted on your fingers, maybe on one hand.

Why is there a discussion about buying gas in the car-free forum? Especially from people spendnig $100+ per tank...

are you lost?
Nope my current job requires me to have a truck. They PAY for it. Just as soon as I can I will be leaving this job and getting into one that allows me to live very car light, at that time the truck will go back into semi retirement and be used for farm use only when needed.

Aaron:)

Why is there a discussion about buying gas in the car-free forum? Especially from people spendnig $100+ per tank... are you lost?

I started the thread because, I think that fewer gas stations are better for bikes. First, fewer gas stations likely mean less holding capacity for gas which will mean huge lines if the supply is disturbed. It also implies that fuel companies are controlling more retail gas and that will lead to higher prices.
I was trying to determine if my observation, (that there are two less gas stations in a 2 mile radius in the past 6 months in my area), has been seen by others of if it is an anomoly.

Paying for gas might be a reason to go carfree.

Fewer tankers traveling city streets= safer for peds and cyclsits.

I know that the people who would notice such things might be readers of the car free threads.

Living car free does imply that you are gas free, but that is not a necessary conclusion.

Having said all of that I know that many people who are carfree feel like marginalized and disenfranchised members of society and that can suck in many ways. I'd venture to say that any of the motoring public that wonders into the LCF subgroup are more kindred spirits than you may think. No one here is saying, "your an idiot for not participating in the oil economy". If anything they are saying that they are the idiots and that the gas situation is causing some change in their postion.

There are many reasons to go car free and many challanges to deal with once you do.

This has been going on for a very long time. Back in the 40's and 50's gas stations were far more common than they are now. And most of them were independently owned. My grandfather owned one. The big companies started buying them up and dominating more of the market by the 70's. In the 80's and 90's UST (underground storage tank) requirements pretty much destroyed anyone who didn't have a corporate bank account to draw from. So there are fewer and fewer stations. Though people don't notice as much because tanks are so much bigger and running out of gas isn't very common.

The '73 oil embargo eliminated very large number of the gas stations in our area. Due to the fact that most of the stations were independently own, even though they were brand name, the oil companies were only going to supply their company owned stations first and then ration the remaining gasoline to the independents. Then the oil companies doubled or tripled the station's lease rate in the following years, leaving very little financial incentive for another large number of independent station owners to remain in the gas station business. Emission reduction costs futher reduced the number of stations. I would say around 25 stations have disappeared in our town alone since '73, and only 4 self service gas stations and 2 card locks have been built to replace them.

They're building new ones around here. Including one at the Kroger store a half-mile from my house. :(