Sometimes, the places that seem the simplest and most everyday end up being the ones we miss the most when they are no longer there. Gas stations are a perfect example. They are much more than just a stopover to fill up. Who hasn’t ever entered a station just to grab a quick coffee in the early morning, buy their favourite chocolate that seems to have a special flavour on the road, or simply to take a break and stretch their legs a bit on a long trip? For many, gas stations are those little refuges in the middle of the daily rush, places of meeting and even memories.
Now, a station that has been serving drivers for more than 30 years is about to close more than 270 branches and its customers have only a few days left to visit it for the last time.
United Dairy Farmers has its days numbered.
Specifically two. The Circleville (Ohio) service station will close its doors in two days after having been on the front line for more than 30 years supplying whoever passed by with everything necessary to make their trip more pleasant.
It was in 1990 when this service station decided to open its doors, and now, a classic on the Ohio skyline will be practically inert, since the mayor of Circleville has not yet received any proposals to occupy and develop any commercial activity on this land that will be empty in just two days. Likewise, the Pickaway County auditor’s office also reports that the property has not been sold (so most likely no one has asked about it either).
For their part, the workers of this branch have asked the neighbours to come and enjoy the last days of life before the gas station closes its doors forever.
What is happening with the closure of gas stations?
The world is changing its market vision, this is not the only gas station that is closing, we are in a context in which one of the gas station giants is closing at least 1,000 pumps and expanding charging ports for electric vehicles.
Yes, as you heard, we are talking about Shell, who is changing its market strategy and has modified and closed between 500 and 1,000 branches to give them a turnaround and now offer charging ports in view of the growing electric vehicle market.
It is expected that by 2025 the 1,000 gas branches will have closed their doors permanently.
The way is green, sustainable and plug-in.
That’s right, in this year of 2024 there has been a great rebound in electric vehicles, not only have the companies that we already know as leaders in the sector (such as Tesla, for example) but many other motor giants have joined this initiative that is beginning to be taken seriously among the population.
Hyundai, Ford, Lucid and Rivian have already reported that they have broken their own sales records for fully electric vehicles, unlike Tesla, which has not exceeded its business expectations in the past two quarters.
An alternative on the horizon
Plug-in and mild hybrids have skyrocketed in sales as consumers seek, mainly, to save money with the same service, but there are many of them who still do not see themselves driving a fully electric vehicle, so it is the perfect alternative for them. Toyota, Volkswagen, Ford and General Motors are already looking for new models that meet the expectations of all their customers.
So, don’t get too attached to gasoline vehicles because this has only just begun, and little by little, everything we know about roads and engines will change until everything is sustainable
