Posted: 10 Feb 2007 14:20
Rich's in Atlanta sold gas at the "tire and auto centers" in the old days (well, Rich's is gone anyway!!). In Eastern Europe, the mega stores (hipermarts) sell gas often. Auchan (French) sells gas in Hungary.
History and Commercial Archaeology of Chain Supermarkets and Other Retailers
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The S.B. location did had a gas station at one time. I was attending summer school at San Bernardino Valley College when Fedco folded and by then the gas station was an independent. I only used it once. The service station next to the gas station remained Fedco until its last days and still has the old signage. The store was gutted and converted into an hispanic market and clothing store.Jeff wrote:Fedco did have gas stations at a couple of thier locations. The ones I remember are Pasadena (caddy-corner to the store), and Ontario (in the lot).
La Cinega, San Bernardino I dont recall having gas stations.
I do know the Buena Park Fedco didn't have one, since it was built in an old May Company store.
The La Cienega store's gas station is now the Arco on the corner of La Cienega and Rodeo. There was also a separate auto care center (tires, oil changes, etc) on the north end of the Fedco lot but it was torn down when Target took over.Jeff wrote:La Cinega, San Bernardino I dont recall having gas stations.
I've seen a photo from 1965 with the name "Blendomatic" on Penney's gas pumps. Not sure if that's a reference to the fuel, or the pump itself.terryinokc wrote:Montgomery Ward in Oklahoma City had gas at their tire and auto center.....seems like it was called "Riverside" gas, or something like that. Also, JC Penney had at least one store here that sold gasoline.....Penncrest, maybe?
Probably similar to Sunoco's old "blender" pumps, where you would choose the octane by changing the dial.tkaye wrote:I've seen a photo from 1965 with the name "Blendomatic" on Penney's gas pumps. Not sure if that's a reference to the fuel, or the pump itself.terryinokc wrote:Montgomery Ward in Oklahoma City had gas at their tire and auto center.....seems like it was called "Riverside" gas, or something like that. Also, JC Penney had at least one store here that sold gasoline.....Penncrest, maybe?
From what I can tell via a quick search, the Wayne 511 Blendomatic pump was what Sunoco used. It may have been used by others as well. If you want to look on page 233 of this document http://ag.state.nv.us/menu/top/ago/OldO ... 59_AGO.pdf, you'll get an overview of how the device worked (it's a 1959 Nevada Attorney General opinion that the pump didn't violate Nevada law as to labeling and sale of gasoline).jamcool wrote:Probably similar to Sunoco's old "blender" pumps, where you would choose the octane by changing the dial.tkaye wrote:I've seen a photo from 1965 with the name "Blendomatic" on Penney's gas pumps. Not sure if that's a reference to the fuel, or the pump itself.terryinokc wrote:Montgomery Ward in Oklahoma City had gas at their tire and auto center.....seems like it was called "Riverside" gas, or something like that. Also, JC Penney had at least one store here that sold gasoline.....Penncrest, maybe?
If you look at the face of the pump - see that row of squarish things along the bottom? That's the different blends. I can't see where it says "Blendomatic" on the picture.tkaye wrote:Here's a shot of said Penney's Blendomatic pumps at the Tacoma Mall: http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/i ... 654818PM86 -- they look like everyday gas pumps to me!
By the way, this auto center is a Firestone now. The gas pumps are gone, but not much else has changed.
Thanks for the insight -- a photo of the gas station that ran in the newspaper during the grand opening (most likely taken by the same photographer as this) shows a close-up of the pump where "Blendomatic" is written across the top of the pump, next to the Penneys logos, which are easily visible here.Dave wrote:If you look at the face of the pump - see that row of squarish things along the bottom? That's the different blends. I can't see where it says "Blendomatic" on the picture.
For what it's worth, the Fred Meyer store in Longview, WA has a Les Schwab tire center on its southwest corner as an outparcel building. I am not sure if it ever had a gas station, as I do not remember one since the late 80s. I have always wondered if it was originally a Fred Meyer-owned building as it is somewhat smaller than a typical Les Schwab, and has some architectural features similar to the Fred Meyer store. A few years ago Fred Meyer did construct a gas station, on its southeast corner.tkaye wrote:What goes around comes around... Fred Meyer stores constructed in the '70s usually operated a service station as an outparcel. They were eventually sold off to other operators. But, in the past several years, as gas stations have become a common sight at supermarkets, Fred Meyer has added them as well... often adjacent to their old auto centers/service stations!