Closing the pumps

An unusually high number of gas bars have disappeared around the city this year, says a man responsible for removing them.

Northwest Petroleum Equipment Limited’s Adrian DiGiuseppe said the company he works for has removed at least eight gas bars this year. It’s been a peak year for a trend that’s been ongoing since 1996 with new environmental regulations. Along with the environmental costs, a $250,000 price tag for equipment and changing traffic patterns can also lead to gas bars being removed.

"If their volume isn’t high enough the risk return really isn’t there for them to stay open," he said. "The ones that tend to go are the ones that have been there the longest."
Although there are less places to get gas in the city, the stations left behind tend to be larger, DiGiuseppe said.

"Fewer sites in general but more that are left are larger and have more to offer than just gasoline," said DiGiuseppe.

Ian Gradner bought Garry’s Automotive last year. The station at the corner of Frederica and Ford Streets had gas pumps when the building was purchased, but Gradner had them removed last fall. The profits were too little for the "headaches" involved with serving gas.

"Financially it’s just not worth it," Gradner said.

Those headaches also include staffing the pumps, staying open longer hours and the costs involved should a spill occur. Gradner said he’s heard of gas station owners paying $80,000 just to clean up a spill.

"For setups like mine, small guys it could be quite costly to clean it up," Gradner said. "That could shut down the doors for me if I had to come up with that kind of money."