Search found 533 matches

by Ephrata1966
18 Jun 2012 00:53
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: Similarities Between Texaco and Shell Signage
Replies: 9
Views: 10888

Re: Similarities Between Texaco and Shell Signage

Texaco stations in all these towns are now Gulf: 1. Chester, PA 2. Broomall, PA (this is the Gulf near the Wawa, not across from the old Two Guys/A&P center) 3. Jim Thorpe, PA 4. Hammonton, NJ Also, the CITGO in Norristown PA became Shell around 2007, but has since become Gulf... Perhaps all the...
by Ephrata1966
17 Jun 2012 18:00
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: Former ARCO Gas Stations in Philadelphia and its Suburbs
Replies: 3
Views: 7551

Re: Former ARCO Gas Stations in Philadelphia and its Suburbs

Are you referring to the station at Cattrall @ Crescent Blvd.. or another one? I am pretty sure that was a Sunoco originally I wasn't referring to a station which is currently Sunoco. There was another gas station almost next door to it which may or may not be open anymore. It didn't seem to have a...
by Ephrata1966
17 Jun 2012 17:55
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: Does this gas station look like it was a Mobil?
Replies: 6
Views: 14599

Re: Does this gas station look like it was a Mobil?

Thanks for your help but I am convinced it was a Mobil if not for a short time. The plastic inserts of the signs by the road almost look like they still might be original Mobil ones which have been re-stamped.
by Ephrata1966
15 Jun 2012 21:40
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: Does this gas station look like it was a Mobil?
Replies: 6
Views: 14599

Does this gas station look like it was a Mobil?

It's at 555 E Baltimore Ave in Clifton Heights PA. Until relatively recently, it was a Coastal before going unbranded. The signs have a Mobil shape, and the station buildings have "tree bark" brick which screams 70's and reminds me of the Mobil about 10 miles west on Baltimore Pike in Spri...
by Ephrata1966
15 Jun 2012 21:32
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: Former ARCO Gas Stations in Philadelphia and its Suburbs
Replies: 3
Views: 7551

Former ARCO Gas Stations in Philadelphia and its Suburbs

Someone in another thread here mentioned that the Camden NJ Gulf station, which was a "Gas Stop" station, which was Shell before that, was perhaps an ARCO station first. I have also noticed several gas stations and former gas stations in PA and NJ with signage similar to this station. The ...
by Ephrata1966
15 Jun 2012 21:25
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: Similarities Between Texaco and Shell Signage
Replies: 9
Views: 10888

Similarities Between Texaco and Shell Signage

I just noticed something really weird: Shell price signs by the road have been shaped like Texaco signs for a long time, even before the two companies had an alliance. Perhaps this wasn't a coincidence? For example, the BP which was Shell at 309 and 663 in Quakertown PA has a sign which could easily...
by Ephrata1966
16 May 2012 17:33
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: The Very First Texaco "System 2000" Stations (1981-1983)
Replies: 14
Views: 14871

Re: The Very First Texaco "System 2000" Stations (1981-1983)

Thanks for that bit of info. When would you say the Camden location got rid of the Shell name? And did original Shell stations ever have fast food places in them (such as Church's Chicken or Dunkin Donuts)? I know of several Texaco/Shell stations in the South that have these, but it seems like this ...
by Ephrata1966
15 May 2012 15:16
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: The Very First Texaco "System 2000" Stations (1981-1983)
Replies: 14
Views: 14871

Re: The Very First Texaco "System 2000" Stations (1981-1983)

Which country does Shell really "belong to"? The US, UK, or Netherlands? The situation in Houston is weird too. Shell has had stations there for a long time, but still ended up buying units from Texaco. Ironically, a number of Mobil stations on the North Freeway ended up becoming Texaco. M...
by Ephrata1966
14 May 2012 17:20
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: The Very First Texaco "System 2000" Stations (1981-1983)
Replies: 14
Views: 14871

Re: The Very First Texaco "System 2000" Stations (1981-1983)

Is it just me, or were taller Shell street signs/price signs from the 90's shaped just like their Texaco counterparts? These Shell stations were definitely Shell before the deal with Texaco. Also, why did Shell leave the Philadelphia area (they had "ranch" stations there in the 60's/70's) ...
by Ephrata1966
27 Apr 2012 11:10
Forum: History: USA Southwest and Hawaii (Excluding California)
Topic: A&P in Houston
Replies: 5
Views: 9454

Re: A&P in Houston

Thanks for clearing that up. Actually, I think there was an Eckerd here that moved to the parking lot (and has since been replaced by a CVS), and the old Eckerd in the plaza became a liquor store which bought the rights to the K&B name. A 1997 map of the center I found said "K&B". ...
by Ephrata1966
27 Apr 2012 01:06
Forum: History: USA Southwest and Hawaii (Excluding California)
Topic: A&P in Houston
Replies: 5
Views: 9454

Re: A&P in Houston

Apparently there was an A&P at Northtowne Plaza (which oddly enough shares its name with a very similar Norristown, PA center) at North Freeway and Tidwell. Does anyone know which store this is now? I am thinking Big Lots, which was MacFrugal's, but I'm not sure. Or maybe it was the "Fallas...
by Ephrata1966
27 Apr 2012 01:04
Forum: History: USA Southwest and Hawaii (Excluding California)
Topic: Safeway at Richey and Bammel Rds, Houston
Replies: 1
Views: 7036

Safeway at Richey and Bammel Rds, Houston

Was this store anything after Safeway/AppleTree? It appears empty in Google Maps and must have been one of the last new Safeways built in Houston, circa 1984. Ironically the decline of Safeway in Houston coincided with the growth of Randalls. There was an earlier Safeway (from the 70's) at Bammel an...
by Ephrata1966
27 Apr 2012 00:52
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Acme (yes the Philadelphia chain) in Martinsburg, WV
Replies: 1
Views: 4029

Acme (yes the Philadelphia chain) in Martinsburg, WV

When did this Acme close? Was it a Thriftway more recently? I don't know the address, but the store is in Martinsburg near the old Nichols store, which is now a Big Lots.
by Ephrata1966
27 Apr 2012 00:51
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: History of Safeway in King George, VA
Replies: 6
Views: 8551

History of Safeway in King George, VA

Does anyone know when this Safeway opened/closed? It's now a True Value Hardware. It still has a diamond-shaped pylon sign which gave away its history. This is near the "Horne's" rest stop which broke off from Stuckey's.
by Ephrata1966
06 Mar 2012 19:34
Forum: History: Department Store Chains
Topic: Hardlines in older downtown JCPenney locations
Replies: 6
Views: 9643

Re: Hardlines in older downtown JCPenney locations

Well, there was an ancient "J.C. Penney Co." store in Coatesville PA which relocated to the nearby Exton Square Mall in 2000. This mall was built in 1972, but for much of its life the only anchor was a Strawbridge & Clothier/Strawbridge's (now Macy's). The May store was in the middle o...