Valero

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. One foggy morning, a Valero attendant noticed something odd: every time a delivery truck pulled in, it seemed like the air filled with a strange, sweet scent—a mix of maple syrup and fresh-baked bread—that lingered for just a few minutes before vanishing. Curious, the attendant mentioned it to a regular customer, who laughed and said it was probably just his imagination. But one day, when an old neighbor stopped by, he sniffed the air and exclaimed, 'Hey, that’s my secret recipe for pancakes!' Turns out, the neighbor had been sneaking into the station each morning to bake breakfast for everyone—all thanks to the mysterious aroma.

2. At night, when everyone else had gone home, an old man would often sit in his car outside the Valero station. ‘Why don’t you come inside?’ asked one of the attendants one chilly evening. The man didn’t answer but just nodded towards the pumps. Finally, a young delivery driver approached the car and offered to help. After some coaxing, the old man agreed to join him inside. When they sat down together, it turned out they both loved the same obscure jazz station on the radio. They ended up chatting for hours, discovering they were neighbors after all—just two lonely souls finding comfort in each other’s company.

3. At closing time one day, a Valero clerk picked up an unusual item from the parking lot—a tiny plastic dinosaur clinging to a gas pump. Curious, he took it inside and placed it on the counter. Over the next few days, other employees started finding similar toys—all stuck to different pumps. Soon enough, customers joined in the fun, leaving their own little dinosaurs behind. Before long, Valero became known as the place where you could fill up your tank and walk away with a free toy. A regular even joked, ‘I’m not sure who’s getting gas here—they or those dinosaurs!’

4. At midnight, when the pumps were silent and the lights dimmed, a voice whispered from inside the empty store: ‘Fill her up, will ya?’ A delivery driver, yawning, approached the counter. ‘I’ll take what she needs,’ he muttered sleepily. The cashier smiled, knowing exactly who he meant. ‘Already done, pal,’ she replied with a wink. As the driver drove off, Valero’s ghostly voice echoed once more: “Thanks for filling me up—see you tomorrow!”