June 28, 2000

Times change. So do gas stations

It's easy to take gas stations for granted. We visit them often. We may just look for the cheapest price and ignore the differences that are much more important.

Pacifica today has only 10 service stations: three Shell, two Texaco, two Union, two Chevron's and a Beacon. One of the Texaco stations, Dave and Lou's, can trace its history back to 1956. It's been through several brands and a move across the street, but it's still within the same family, a record that can't be matched in Pacifica and probably not most places.

There is probably no rougher business than selling gasoline. It's important. It's necessary. It's useful. But from the standpoint of the dealer, it's awfully competitive. Dealers have only two main problems, customers and suppliers/refiners. Of course there is also the government, the weather, and the competition. Of them all, the suppliers/refiners probably are the worst pains to deal with.

Only two gas stations advertise in the 2000 Chamber of Commerce Directory. By contrast, in the 1973-74 directory, 25 dealers were listed. There were four Arco dealers, five Chevron, an Exxon, a Gulf, a Mobil, a Mohawk, two Phillips 66, five Shell, two Texaco, and three Union. There may have been more dealers in town, but it seems unlikely. It was a competitive world, and most did not survive.

For those of you who weren't here in the early seventies, or are too young to remember, there were Arco stations at 610 Crespi, 498 Palmetto (now Eddie's Union), 2251 Oceana, and 2095 Cabrillo Highway (now Beacon). Chevrons were located at 1055 Terra Nova, 2499 Oceana, Monterey and Palmetto, 576 Linda Mar Blvd. and Skyline at Sharp Park Road (now an Oil Changers location, and yes, that is in the city of Pacifica).

The Exxon station was located at 201 Monterey Road. The Gulf was at 1518 Francisco (now a Texaco, has been an Olympic). The Mobil was at 700 Hickey (now a Chevron, has been a BP). The Mohawk was at 100 Milagra (now a Chevron). The Phillips 66 stations were on Skyline at Manor and 500 Linda Mar Blvd. (that location is now Denny's Restaurant. The Nannini family moved across the street and now owns the Texaco station at 505 Linda Mar Blvd.)

Shell stations in town have been the most stable. There are still Shell stations at Aura Vista and Palmetto, 4475 Cabrillo Highway, and 679 Hickey. The Shell stations at 590 Crespi and 525 Eureka Square have disappeared since 1973.

There were two Texacos in 1973. The station at 505 Linda Mar Blvd. has since been a Chevron and is Texaco once again. in 1973 there was also a Texaco at 582 Linda Mar Blvd.

In 1973 there were three Union stations. The station at 765 Oddstad still exists, as the only station in Park Pacifica. Don Keyes' Linda Mar Union at Adobe Plaza has long since been torn down and soon will be replaced by a pizza restaurant. Mike Guagliardo's Union in Rockaway Beach has been replaced by a large welcome to Rockaway sign. Mike opened his station in 1946. Before his death not long ago, he used to enjoy a stroll around Rockaway from time to time. He loved to reminisce about those difficult postwar days. He was a fine person, and I enjoyed our conversations.

Some recent Reactor columns may be found at Paul Azevedo's website, http://www.thereactor.net/ Reach him by e-mail at reactor@wenet.net