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California Gas Stations (page 11)

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former Gilmore station
Los Angeles, CA

2013:

2015:
This former double-canopied Gilmore station was designed by R.J. Kadow and built in 1935. It became a Mobil station in 1945 when Gilmore merged with that company. In its final years as a gas station, it housed a Texaco. The building was then vacant for many years and neither canopy had supporting poles. In 2008, one of the canopies appeared to have been struck by a truck. After that, chain link fencing was installed around the station. The separate canopy structure appears to have been built at the same time as the station or shortly thereafter. The station was declared a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument. In 2015, the building was adapted for a Starbucks. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

former station
San Carlos, CA
According to the owners, this former station was built in 1946. It was a 76 station at some point. The office and separate bay building were assembled from a prefabricated kit. For many years, the buildings housed Nielsen Automotive which sold Olympian gas and offered repairs. It closed in 2022 and the property is now surrounded by chain link fencing. [map]

former station [gone]
Fresno, CA
This double-canopy former station looked like it might have been a Gilmore or a Texaco station originally. These photos are from 2017. The building was demolished by 2019.

former Flying A station
Berkeley, CA
This former Flying A station now operates as Bridgeway Service and a Coast station. [map]

former station
McFarland, CA
This former station appears to have been related to the Famoso Motel next door which has some of the same cinder block construction. I don't know when it was built or what brand was sold here originally. It looks like it might have been a Flying A station originally. This was once a Texaco station and later a Chevron station. However, the pumps were removed long ago and the building was abandoned for many years. In 2013 when these photos were taken, it appeared to be in use as a tire and repair shop. [map]

former station
Lemon Grove, CA
This former station features the longest canopy that I've ever seen. The pumps have been removed and the building has been vacant since at least 2008. In 2021, the property was being used for construction supply storage. By 2022, the building was boarded up and vacant. [map]

The Station
St. Helena, CA
The Station was built in 1948. It now houses the Napa Valley Petroleum gas station. From at least the 1980s until around 2008, this was an Exxon station. It might have been built as an Esso or Gulf station. Since 2019, the building has served as a coffee bar, bakery, and sells other food. For more, see this website. [map]

former Mobil station [gone]
Colusa, CA
former Mobil station
Fresno, CA
This former Mobil station in Colusa last housed Tri County Petroleum. The building and canopy were demolished by 2022.

This former Mobil station in Fresno is now used as a smog check business. By 2020, only one of the mushroom canopies remained and it was painted red. [map]

I don't know of any other Mobil mushroom canopies like these that have survived in California. There are only about 13 others left around the country. For more intact examples of these statues, see these in North Carolina.

former Mobil station
Los Angeles, CA
2008: 2012:
This former Mobil station was supposedly built in 1940. It looks more like late 1940s to me. The building is now used as an auto repair shop. In 2019, the building was painted grey and orange. This drum type station originally looked like this one in Mount Clemens, MI which is now gone. [map]

Mobil station
Encinitas, CA
This Mobil station was built in 2007. The 7-Eleven convenience store which shares the lot was built to simulate the Mobil drum design described directly above. [map]

CA Misc.
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CA Misc.
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CA Misc.
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CA Misc.
(page 4)
CA Misc.
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CA Misc.
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CA Misc.
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CA Misc.
(page 8)
CA Misc.
(page 9)
CA Misc.
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CA Misc.
(page 12)
CA Flying A
Stations
CA Orbit
Stations
CA Phillips 66
Stations
CA Richfield
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CA Texaco
Stations
CA Wilshire
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Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.