NEW YORK – In this season of summer road trips, online arts and lifestyle brand Paste took the opportunity to consider what contributor Sarra Sedghi rightfully called “an essential element” of any road trip and “one of the most fascinating and iconic establishments of interstate culture”: gas stations.
In her “Drive-Thru Americana” feature, Sedghi compiles a thoroughly unscientific list of what she deems to be “regional chains or standout joints that break the mold.”
“A gas station can be a consumerist mecca or a hole-in-the-wall (er, we mean mountain) and it’s the possibilities that make convenience stores special and memorable.” The top 10, in no particular order, include:
- Wawa, various locations in Del., Fla, Md., N.J., Penn. and Va.
- Wiregrass Junction, Aline, Ga.
- R. W. Lindholm Service Station, Cloquet, Minn.
- Buc-ee’s, various locations in Texas
- Shamrock/Oklahoma Joe’s Barbecue and Catering, Kansas City, Kan. (Be sure to check this station out in this year’s Ideas 2 Go presentation at the NACS Show in Las Vegas!)
- Andy’s Express, Lincoln, Neb.
- Bode’s General Store, Abiquiu, N.M.
- Hollow Mountain, Hanksville, Utah
- Orbit Station, Sacramento, Calif.
- Helios House, Los Angeles, Calif.