90 replies to this topic

[Mixed365]

I have been wondering about vacant gas stations for a while not this was all very helpful. My curiosity began when the Shell on Mckenzie and Shelbourne got bulldozed down a few months ago. Also mc9, WOW that is something else about the purchasing of properties -->
 

I have seen certain gas companies buy out surrounding properties and houses and kick the tenants out because it is just too contaminated.

Question - is it safe to assume the majority of gas stations are actually owned by the oil company itself? I suspect developers do not want to bye liable for the incidents previously listed. 

[VicHockeyFan]

Question - is it safe to assume the majority of gas stations are actually owned by the oil company itself? I suspect developers do not want to bye liable for the incidents previously listed. 

 

I think so, then often leased to operators.

[VicHockeyFan]

Oh ya, that reminds me... the Quadra Mohawk seems to be fully converted to a Husky now.  Been the same company for a long time, but I wonder if the use of the name Mohawk was sparking any controversy and they are converting them all.

 

Old photo, 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mike K.]

Mohawk is a national brand that was bought out by Husky. We only had one Mohawk in the CRD though.

[VicHockeyFan]

Mohawk is a national brand that was bought out by Husky. We only had one Mohawk in the CRD though.

 

I know, but the acquisition happened in 1998.  I just wonder if in light of the recent controversies about use of First Nations names (like for sports teams) that they re-branded away from Mohawk now.

 

http://ebrandon.ca/m...504331&cat_id=3

 

 

You will notice that it will then become the 18th St Husky, as it will be rebranded under the Husky banner. Husky Oil has owned Mohawk for years and has always had the intentions of retiring the Mohawk banner. Although it has taken them years to do so, it will most definately become apparent in the very short future as you will see all the Mohawks dissapear.  

 

[concorde]

Question - is it safe to assume the majority of gas stations are actually owned by the oil company itself? I suspect developers do not want to bye liable for the incidents previously listed. 

No, a lot of the stations are privately owned and sign contracts with the oil companies.  In return they must meet a certain standard, look, etc.  The problem with this is gas station owners don't make a lot of money and are saddled with a lot of the risk, but not all.

 

Its similar to McDonalds.  Corporate forced the franchisee to upgrade the look of the restaurant every 8-10 years which falls on the store owner.  That isn't always the case if corporate rolls out a new campaign on a certain idea (like those self serve drink stations) then corporate pays a large portion

 

Some stations are corporate owned, just like some McDonalds

 

I am not an expert in this area, I've only picked it up thru talking with friends who own McDonalds, gas stations, etc

[VicHockeyFan]

My understanding, at least when I worked at two different ones as a kid (a Texaco and a Chevron) is that the gas company owned the building and land, and the "owner" owned the stock and the business.  That's how the Husky/Mohawk worked too, on Quadra, I know a former owner quite well.

[mc9]

"My understanding, at least when I worked at two different ones as a kid (a Texaco and a Chevron) is that the gas company owned the building and land, and the "owner" owned the stock and the business"

The oil companies are liable for the land and clean up.

[mc9]

Also, I always found it interesting that the oil companies would clean up and work to the safety standards required by the government here, but go to some other poorer country and it appears that the company could care less about safety and environment there.

[Holden West]

The environmental trucks are at the Cedar Hill X empty gas lot right now. I find this lot interesting as it's so similar to the old Payless at Cook/Hillside. They might not have the environmental problems that affect their neighbours since both sites are hacked out of solid rock.

Edited by Holden West, 18 August 2014 - 05:18 PM.

[concorde]

My understanding, at least when I worked at two different ones as a kid (a Texaco and a Chevron) is that the gas company owned the building and land, and the "owner" owned the stock and the business.  That's how the Husky/Mohawk worked too, on Quadra, I know a former owner quite well.

I think it works that way for some stations, but some individuals own everything outright.  Remember when the Shell at Pat Bay and Sayward became a FAS Gas.  I think the owner was not happy with Shell and switched, that is pretty hard to do if Shell owned the land and building

 

Another example is the Shell at Cook and Fairfield where they removed the pumps and tanks but its still a service station.  Again if Shell owned the land and buildings why didn't they just demo the site and prepare it for redevelopment

[VicHockeyFan]

Another example is the Shell at Cook and Fairfield where they removed the pumps and tanks but its still a service station.  Again if Shell owned the land and buildings why didn't they just demo the site and prepare it for redevelopment

 

I don't know why the current owner doesn't.  Seems like prime land, just to be used for a mechanical shop.  Gas stations are good at busy corners like Hillside/Shelbourne.

[29er Radio]

I spoke to the owner of the Fairfield/cook shell and shell sold him the site recently as he was the operator. The margins are far
better for car repair than gas selling and the enviro upgrade from gas to repair is very low. That corner is busy but not really a great retail spot and some people just like to run a business on their land, rather than develop it.

[Holden West]

Shell wanted to upgrade the Fairfield station to include a small market but they were shot down by the community association because they felt it would be unfair competition for the corner store opposite. I guess Shell lost interest after that.

[HB]

The gas pumps were taken out about a year ago not as recent as you think.

[HB]

The service station motel and Brookmans Store are being torn down right now.

The station is gone the motel is one level now and Brookmans has the back side torn apart

 

Gorge Rd W at Admirals

[weisguy86]

Not sure which company owned the gas station that was at Sooke Rd and Goldstream Avenue that shut down some 15 years ago but they are excavating it now to make way for a new RBC and Rexall.

[Mike K.]

No doubt would-be tenants of Capital City Centre?

[VicHockeyFan]

This is up at Kilshaw's this week.

 

 

 

 

 

[Dale S]

I miss the old brands.  

 

As a kid in Richmond in the 1970's we had Esso, Shell and Chevron (Standard), but also we had Gulf (taken by Petro Canada), Union 76 (taken by Husky), Home and Texaco (taken by Esso) and Pacific 66 (taken by who knows...)   I may be missing one.  

 

I know in Victoria the corner of Burnside and Douglas was a Union 76 station until the late 70's.

 

Soon it will be Co-Op only. Esso sold their stations in BC to 7-11 (still branded as Esso) and Chevron just sold theirs to Parkland Fuel (will remain branded as Chevron)