Here in the U.S., old and dilapidated gas stations service as markers, reminders of our not-far-gone history of muscle cars and the roads that helped to connect and shape the contemporary American landscape. It is no wonder then that these old stations, when renovated, make for iconic locations for new businesses. We may be seeing a new trend arising in our domestic restaurant industry, with restauranteurs across the country scooping up old service stations and turning them into new eateries.
A recent
CNN article highlights a handful of young restaurants that have taken up shop in vintage gas stations, while attempting to keep their old world charm intact. As the article points out, there are a few good reasons for doing this even outside of nostalgic and stylistic motivations. These abandoned service stations, once strongly connected to their respective communities, are located on prime real estate, usually corner lots. Another reason noted by the article is that although car ownership in America has been steadily increasing, the number of gas stations has decreased by 8.2% from 2002, according to the most recent data.
In an industry focused on technology and food service innovation, unused gas stations offer a refreshing juxtaposition to the increasingly new and shiny idea of modern restaurants, and their historic charm can be a draw to passerby's. The iconography of these old stations has proven this, with vintage gas pumps and porcelain shop signs often
fetching thousands at auction (think about the popular
History Channel show, American Pickers, in which the hosts are always on the lookout for a good Standard Oil sign). Expired gas stations have firmly ingrained themselves in American culture, and appear to be very appealing to consumers. It looks as though using that history to the advantage of a restaurant's design and marketing is a big win for operators. Check out the full CNN article in the source link below.
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Source:
CNN,
Image Credit
Tablebases.com
