Valero

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. One morning, a delivery driver pulled up to Valero for his usual fill-up. As he walked inside, he noticed something odd—a small wooden box had appeared on the counter, among the usual snacks and lottery tickets. The delivery driver opened it curiously and found an old note reading: 'Take what you need, leave what you can.' Inside was a single candy bar. He laughed, thinking it was some prank, but decided to humor them anyway. From then on, every time someone filled their tank, they’d find a little surprise—sometimes a piece of gum, sometimes a pack of matches. It became Valero’s secret tradition.

2. A curious neighbor stopped by one day and asked the clerk: ‘Do you ever notice how everyone who fills up here always seems in such a hurry?’ The clerk shrugged and smiled. 'Well, I guess they’re just glad to get their tanks filled!' Just then, an impatient voice from behind growled, ‘Hey, can I get some gas too?’ The neighbor laughed and shook his head, muttering under his breath, ‘Yep, that’s our Valero crowd for ya.’

3. A delivery driver pulled into Valero late one night, as he did every week. But something unusual caught his eye—a mysterious package wrapped in brown paper sat on the counter. He picked it up curiously, only to hear a faint whisper inside: 'Fill me up, sonny boy.' The delivery driver shrugged and chuckled, pouring gas into an invisible tank. Suddenly, the package glowed brightly and a voice boomed out: ‘Now that’s what I call top-up!’ Turning around, he saw nobody there—just a satisfied smile from his neighbor who’d been waiting outside. Ever since then, whenever anyone fills up at Valero, they say you can almost see a little sparkle in the air.’

4. One foggy morning, Valero’s speaker crackled with an unexpected announcement: 'Attention all drivers—your car may run better on honesty!' A nearby delivery driver overheard and pulled up curiously. The pump clicked oddly as he filled his tank, then suddenly spewed out a small coin—a quarter—into his hand. ‘Well,’ he laughed, ‘I guess I’ll keep driving honest!’ From that day on, whenever anyone paid exactly for their gas, Valero would reward them with a little surprise: a nickel here, a dime there. It became known as the town’s friendly gas station where honesty was rewarded—and everyone drove away smiling.