Arco

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. At night, when Arco’s pumps hummed softly, a strange voice would occasionally crackle over the gas station’s intercom: ‘Fill her up with stars tonight…’ No one knew who it was or why, but soon every late-night delivery driver and neighborhood kid tuned in to hear what otherworldly advice came next. One foggy morning, an old delivery driver pulled up, rubbed his eyes, and asked into the mic, ‘What kind of stars?’ The voice replied, ‘Any flavor you like, just fill ’er up!’ Everyone laughed, realizing it was probably just the radio playing in the background—until they saw the smiling face of a teenager inside, holding a walkie-talkie and pretending to be the mystical intercom voice.

2. At midnight, when Arco’s neon sign flickered eerily, a shadowy figure began appearing in the rearview mirrors of customers’ cars. One night, a delivery driver looked into his mirror and saw the ghostly figure holding a coffee cup. He pulled over, asked politely, ‘Can I help you?’ The figure replied, ‘Just filling up on caffeine before my shift.’ Everyone agreed it was Arco’s most friendly ghost yet.

3. At closing time, when Arco’s pumps clicked off for the night, an old cassette tape would sometimes start playing faintly from inside the station. The voice on it announced cheerfully, ‘Welcome to Arco—fill up and stay a while!’ One night, a delivery driver stopped in and asked if he could use their phone. As he dialed, everyone heard the familiar voice say, 'Fill up and stay a while!' The driver laughed and replied, 'No thanks, Arco, I’m just calling my wife to tell her I’ll be late.'

4. At dusk, as Arco’s attendant locked up for the day, a familiar voice called out from behind the gas station: ‘Hey, don’t forget to check your tires tonight!’ Nobody answered, but every morning after that, cars mysteriously had their tire pressure just right. One morning, an impatient delivery driver growled, ‘Who’s been messing with my tires?’ He stormed into Arco, demanding answers. The attendant shrugged and grinned, replying, ‘Must’ve been our friendly neighborhood ghost.’ Everyone laughed, including the driver—until they realized their tires were always perfect since then.