Esso

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. At night, when the gas station’s neon sign flickered softly, a delivery driver would pull up in his truck. He’d grab a coffee from the vending machine and head inside for a quick chat with the attendant. But one evening, as he reached for the handle, the door seemed to open on its own. The delivery driver stepped inside, only to find himself face-to-face with an old acquaintance—none other than the station’s long-time mechanic, who had just finished his shift. ‘Hey there!’ said the mechanic, wiping grease from his hands. ‘Thought I was seeing things.’ The two shared a laugh, and the door closed behind them with a gentle click. At that moment, the neon sign outside flickered once more, casting a warm glow over their conversation.

2. One morning, as an early bird filled up their tank, they noticed something odd on the pump display: ‘ESSO APPRECIATES YOUR PATIENCE.’ The message changed every few seconds—first to ‘PLEASE WAIT FOR THE MAGIC,’ then to ‘ENJOYING THIS WAIT?’ It seemed like the gas station had taken a break from selling fuel and started dispensing whimsy instead. Finally, after what felt like forever, the screen flashed: ‘YOUR FUEL IS READY!’ A regular smiled, thinking it was all part of some clever marketing stunt. But when he drove off, he realized his car hadn’t moved an inch—the pumps were just that slow today. Esso appreciated his patience indeed.

3. At dawn, while filling up her car, a woman noticed that the gas pump seemed to whisper ‘Ess-o’ in a soft voice. Curious, she leaned closer and heard it again—this time clearer than ever: ‘Ess-o-o!’ Suddenly, an old man appeared from behind the station, grinning broadly. ‘That’s just my grandpa,’ she laughed, realizing he’d been refilling his truck. ‘He loves to tease people early in the morning.’

4. At sunset, when the gas station's red and yellow sign glowed warmly, a young mother pulled into Esso for a quick fill-up. As she leaned over the counter, she couldn't help but notice that the cashier seemed to be talking to someone invisible. Turning around, she saw only an empty aisle filled with boxes of tissues and hand sanitizer. Smiling sheepishly, the cashier said, ‘Just chatting with my colleague in the break room.’ The woman laughed it off, thinking nothing more of it—until her three-year-old asked excitedly, ‘Mommy, why is Uncle Gasoline always talking to himself?’