Anyone else noticing gas station shut downs in their area?

[The Backlash Cometh]

We have had a Mobile who shut down a week ago, and as I checked yesterday, isn't open yet. And the same thing is happening in Chevron.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-gasoline-outage-20110401,0,793345.story

[leveymg]

1. Consolidation and cutbacks in the retail gasoline market has been going on for a while

Most of it is that and station leases are so expensive a lot of station owners simply go broke. Traditional full-service shops are also being crowded out by mini-marts that have multiple revenue streams and lower labor costs.

In a lot of towns, it's hard to find an (honest, competent) place to get your car fixed these days.

[Buzz Clik]

2. Not here.

[fasttense]

3. Actually we have had a few gas stations opening.

A rich fat white guy owns most of the gas stations in town so the price tends to stay very high (He even conned the department of safety to put a traffic light at one of his stations -a totally useless light- so he could get more customers to notice it.) But a couple of smart guys just put in two gas station right outside the city limits and their prices are a good 20 cents cheaper. Now the rich fat white guy has started lowering his prices.

[Myrina]

4. No, and i'm also shocked that nobody's protesting or squealing @ $4/gal!!

I remember the uproar when it first hit $2/gal .... now it's double that and unfortunately, since we're in the midst of a new season of American Idol and Desperate Housewives, America doesn't seem able to multi-task and take notice. Sigh.


:wtf:

[Zephie]

5. The gas stations around here have been dropping like flies for months

I drive past several empty and abandoned ones almost daily. There is an island near here that doesn't even have an open gas station on it anymore, but several gutted ones. :shrug:

Edit: Maybe it's just a Florida problem??

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Something is happening. That's evident.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. My first thought: The cost of tank replacement

The cost of replacing the tanks, however, is extremely prohibitive – especially for the mom and pop operations. The average cost of replacing a single underground storage tank is $250,000. Gas stations with multiple tanks can expect a bill of about $400,000. Aside from the expense itself, the trouble for many small and independent gas station owners is acquiring financing for the job.


http://www.leaking-storage-tank.com/news/2009/03/04/deadline-looms-for-florida-gas-station-underground-storage-tanks/

[ThatsMyBarack]

7. There's one Mobil station....

In my area I frequent often because I like to use Speedpass (so's I don't hafta dig out the credit card from my bag). When I went there last week, most of their pump handles were covered with plastic bags, indicating they were out or just not working. I found one that didn't have a baggie on it but when I activated my Speedpass and tried to pump the gas, it was slooooooow. I was on my way to work and didn't have time to wait so long. I had just enough gas to get to the office so I could wait 'til after work to fill up elsewhere.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. That's what a Mobil station is doing here.

[LuvNewcastle]

9. That's what I've noticed.

The stores aren't closed, but several of them are out of gas.

[justabob]

11. started years ago here

but in DFW we had the EPA get involved because the air is so bad here, in the top five worst IIRC. Stations had to replace their underground tanks, the pumps all had to be upgraded with the nozzles that reduce fumes etc. (And cars have to pass emissions tests along with their annual safety inspection) Many, many stations closed down because the costs were high, and the empty lots are still evident. I have no doubt that more have shut down since, but the big wave was years ago. There used to be a station at every intersection (practically.... they were everywhere) now you have to think for a minute where you can get gas in some neighborhoods.

[sinkingfeeling]

12. Yes, multiple ones have gone out of business here.

[Historic NY]

13. Hess boarded up a couple weeks ago....2nd oldest one in the area.

there were signs on it for sale and it is at a busy 5 corners intsection.