Esso

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. At dawn, when Esso’s pumps hummed softly in the pre-dawn quiet, a delivery driver noticed something odd: a lone seagull perched on the gas nozzle, its beak gently siphoning gasoline like it was drinking water. The delivery driver watched, amused and slightly puzzled, until the bird suddenly took off with a tiny drop of gas hanging from its beak. The next morning, everyone in town laughed as they filled up their tanks—some even brought snacks for the persistent feathered friend. It became a friendly local legend: ‘Esso’s Seabill.’

2. At dawn, when Esso's pumps hummed softly in the pre-dawn quiet, a delivery driver pulled up with an unusual load—an old upright piano wrapped in tarp. As he unloaded it, everyone gathered around curiously. Turns out, the piano belonged to a local musician who’d been playing there every Sunday morning for years. When asked why he brought his instrument to Esso, he smiled and said, ‘Why not? Gasoline and music go hand-in-hand!’ And from that day on, Esso became known as the place where you could fill your tank—and soul—with both fuel and melody.

3. At dusk, when Esso’s neon sign flickered invitingly, a local artist stopped for gas and noticed something peculiar on the pump handle. Curious, he rubbed his chin and decided to investigate further. As he touched the handle, an old photograph fell out—an image of Esso from decades ago, smiling back at him. Turning around, he saw an elderly neighbor leaning against the doorframe, laughing softly. ‘Just my way,’ she said, ‘of reminding everyone that Esso never changes.’

4. At midnight, when Esso’s pumps clicked like an old-time typewriter, a neighborhood cat began appearing every night. It would sit on the hood of the same car, watching as if guarding the station. One night, a delivery driver arrived just as the clock struck twelve. He noticed the cat and joked, ‘Hey, are you keeping watch for Esso or do they pay you in milk?’ The cat didn’t bat an eyelash, but the driver tipped his hat and drove off, muttering, ‘Weirdos, man, weirdo cats.’