Why we are so special
When you first drive up to Gas and Grocery Depot, you might think that it is yet another gas station that features a grocery store as well. And while this may be true for a random passerby, this is not true for our regular customers and especially for us, direct descendants of the man who opened Gas and Grocery Depot in 1957, Randy Stoppard, a man with a dream of running his own business and passing it on to his children. We are proud to say that it is still in the Stoppard family, although the last name has changed in 1993, when Randy’s granddaughter Stephanie Dobson took over the Gas and Grocery Depot.
And this is the first thing that makes us so special, at least in the area. We are quite possibly the last larger grocery shop, let alone a gas station. The time has rolled by and destroyed most other similar places, with our Gas and Grocery Depot being the only one still standing and working today. And it is this sense of family that you can feel from the moment you drive up to our pumps and meet the smile of the gas attendant who might just be a member of the Stoppard family or the Dobson family. Our regular customers are well-aware of the familial feeling that they get every time they walk into the store and we definitely hope that the same can be felt by people who simply stop by.
We are also very involved in our local community and that is yet another thing that separates us from the random large chain of gas stations that you can see springing up all over the US like mushrooms after rain. We know that most of our customers come from the local community and we like to think that we give something back to that same community. For instance, we will often have raffles and special occasions where we might give away a year’s supply of gas to the most financially challenged family in the neighborhood or we might support eh local little league team (they won the state championship last year). This is something that you might hear other similar businesses do, especially those with lacking reputation who need to do this to find a place in the community. We do this because we really care about our community.
Furthermore, when you visit us, you simply feel the difference. For instance, at our pumps, you will be greeted by young people who are making allowance by pumping gas and helping you with your groceries. When you walk in, you will often see people talking to each other and discussing the issues of the day. It is more often than not that the cashier is very much involved in these discussions, putting in her or his two cents.
Also, if you need to visit the restroom, or if you need to make a call or even if you want a cup of coffee, all you need to do is ask and you will get it. Free of charge.