Posted on 10/01/2013 9:32:32 AM PDT by JerseyanExile
Gas stations have not historically inspired confidence as palate pleasers. Day-old (or longer) doughnuts or hot dogs rolling (and rolling) on a spinner grill come to mind. But across the Washington region, there are at least a dozen eateries serving delectable, sometimes organic, fare near the pump. There’s Korean bibimbap in Wheaton, authentic Mexican in Jessup, Thai in Leesburg and Latin American in the District. Corned Beef King cooks its meat for 11 hours.
Gas station cuisine is partly being driven by popular food truck operators — Corned Beef King started as a truck in 2011 — seeking permanent locations for the evolution of their brands and to meet strict regulatory requirements to have a licensed base of operations. Other eateries are looking to gas stations for low start-up costs, guaranteed foot traffic and a little bit of kitsch.
The chefs and dreamers have found willing partners in gas station owners. Some have volunteered to cover the cost of building kitchens to tap new sources of revenue — from rent and increased foot traffic — as the margins on gas sales shrink even further and retailers such as Best Buy encroach on their quick-bite turf by stocking soda and snacks at the register.
Jeff Lenard, vice president for strategic initiatives at the National Association of Convenience Stores, is planning to highlight the region’s flourishing gas station food scene at his group’s annual trade show next month. He’s seeking to inspire a wave of innovation at the nation’s 149,000 gas stations and convenience stores, which generate 160 million transactions a day — plenty of opportunity to sling chorizo tacos.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Muzzimart....Gas and diner...
We have two in KC that I know of. Oklahoma Joe’s which people say is the best bbq in town (I prefer Arthur Bryant’s), and Papu’s which is a bery good gyro place.
BUC-EES in New Braunsfels. A transformative dining experience.
Now that they have taken away the mechanics shop there is plenty of room for a dinner.
I love my car. Who wouldn’t like to stop, and get gas for BOTH of us?
Phil Fulmer, Ole Miss as portrayed in The Blind Side
Touch screen order. Pay for it and maybe add a $1 soda to wash it down. Pump your gas. Take a leak. And it's ready to go.
RC and a moonpie...still the best.
To be sure there would be a lot of issues to work out, but wouldn’t it be great if you could pull up to a restaurant and an employee would take your car, gas it up, check the fluids, clean the windshield, air up the tires, and park it for you while you had lunch? While dining, you could access a portal and possibly order some snacks/drinks/coffee/maps to go from the gift shop that would be packed and ready for you as the staff brought your car to you as you left.
Sorta combining valet parking, full-service gas station, travel center and restaurant all in one...
I think the new thing is that they’re talking about is relatively nice restaurants setting up shop in gas stations, rather then fast-food places or diners. About the nicest place I’ve ever seen up here attached to one is a Denny’s.
You’re right about Sheetz. When the family visits relatives in the Youngstown, Ohio, area, my kids insist on getting sandwiches from Sheetz. Very tasty, very affordable, and very big!
CC
It’s bbq anyway.
I stopped at a place in upstate Alabama-Pilot’s I think it was- that had a full restaurant upstairs. VERY nice, big place, good food. It was a real surprise. Anyone else know if I have the right name?
The local paper went around sampling convenience store food and found fried fish was the biggest seller.
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