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Curious about one thing in Europe

Posted on 3/1/19 at 4:06 pm
Posted by Pfft
Member since Jul 2014
3658 posts
Posted on 3/1/19 at 4:06 pm
Do they have a gas station / corner store at every main intersection like we have here?
Was wondering if our Americana has rubbed off on them with this?
Posted by poochie
Houma, la
Member since Apr 2007
6211 posts
Posted on 3/1/19 at 4:14 pm to
Not in Italy. Even in the country. I feel like the “convenience store/gas stations” in their interstates were between the two directions and only accessible to the interstate.

There’s just not as many cars there.
Posted by jsquardjj
Member since Oct 2009
1317 posts
Posted on 3/1/19 at 4:16 pm to
Not at all. There are lots of small convenience stores, but not gas stations since most people walk and use public transportation.
Posted by Pfft
Member since Jul 2014
3658 posts
Posted on 3/1/19 at 4:27 pm to
I think they would be in shock if they would come to the states. 64 ounce soda and a pack of smokes to go with your lotto tickets.
I may not make it for a month over there.
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
38680 posts
Posted on 3/1/19 at 4:59 pm to
Once you get out of the city centers you see more American style convenience stores with gas pumps but not nearly as many as in the US. In the city centers there are small convenience stores similar to NYC bodegas. I've even been in euro cities that had these small stores called Night Winkels that were open from 9pm til 4am for the party people.
I did read a story today that said the number of convenience stores in the US has fallen and 7-11 is trying to find new concepts to beef up its sales. So they now have draft craft beer at a 7-11 near me with crowler fills available. Also a taqueria with a sit down area to eat & drink. LINK
Posted by Spirit of Dunson
Member since Mar 2007
23111 posts
Posted on 3/1/19 at 5:00 pm to
quote:

64 ounce soda and a pack of smokes to go with your lotto tickets
Germany has all of this, but they have a strong driving culture. They're the closest to the US when it comes to gas stations and convenient stores.
Posted by tduecen
Member since Nov 2006
161244 posts
Posted on 3/1/19 at 6:38 pm to
Brussels and Amsterdam no, I had to plan it accordingly. Used an app to let me know where they were located
Posted by Nole Man
Somewhere In Tennessee!
Member since May 2011
7172 posts
Posted on 3/1/19 at 6:49 pm to
I don't know about "all of Europe", but during our recent driving through Slovenia, Croatia and Italy, there were a number of "convenience type stores" that sold gas, snacks etc. along our route. In the major metropolitan areas, can't recall that there were.
This post was edited on 3/1/19 at 6:53 pm
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 3/1/19 at 8:03 pm to
While Italy doesn’t have convenience stores, the autostrada (interstate highway equivalents) have lots of AutoGrills...big gas station/restaurant/snack bar/shop places. Imagine a big Race Trac or a mini Buccees....only Italian style. I love AutoGrills, as you can get decent coffee (espresso at a stand up bar), spremuta (fresh squeezed OJ made right in front of you, from blood oranges if you’re there in winter)....and the restaurants often have some local stuff. I’ve eaten buffalo milk mozzarella sandwiches at an AutoGrill in Campania, prosciutto on rosemary focaccia in Lazio, and ragu stuff arancini in Calabria. The shops offer souvenir type stuff and often local specialties...think limoncello and torrone, or Calabrian hot peppers. I hit a sale on chocolate at an AutoGrill last year and ended up with 6-8 chocolate bars from small Italian producers, including the chocolate from Modica (ground, so it is slightly grainy and very fragrant). AutoGrills usually have clean restrooms, though availability of paper products varies widely.

France’s autoroutes are interesting: on the biggest highways, the service stations are right on the highway right-of-way. You don’t have to exit at all—you just merge over into the parking lot. Those, in my experience, are closer to the US style gas station convenience store model: basic snacks/candy/chips, mediocre coffee, maybe some basic semi-industrial pastries and sandwiches. Most do sell wine, and you can usually get 8 different kinds of mineral water, ‘cause, France. Worst snack I ever purchased was at a French gas station convenience store: a peanut puff. Think Cheeto, only peanut flavored instead of cheese. I bought them simply because the french word for peanut—cacahuete—makes me laugh.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
20440 posts
Posted on 3/1/19 at 9:03 pm to
quote:


France’s autoroutes are interesting: on the biggest highways, the service stations are right on the highway right-of-way. You don’t have to exit at all—you just merge over into the parking lot.


These are amazing. I've seen them in France, Italy, Germany, and England. I wish we had them in the USA. Basically set up like a small rest area with gas pumps. No actual exiting of the interstate, just slightly pull off, fill up, and get back on.
Posted by 2 Jugs
Saint Amant
Member since Feb 2018
1849 posts
Posted on 3/2/19 at 10:07 am to
quote:

quote: France’s autoroutes are interesting: on the biggest highways, the service stations are right on the highway right-of-way. You don’t have to exit at all—you just merge over into the parking lot.



quote:

I wish we had them in the USA.



This is one the greatest ideas ever. It is crazy to think that we allow traffic from the interstate to clog our local roads needlessly.
Posted by lynxcat
Member since Jan 2008
24139 posts
Posted on 3/2/19 at 10:38 am to
Simple answer is no. Gas stations are rare inside the city but are more common once outside into the burbs.
Posted by Tigris
Mexican Home
Member since Jul 2005
12356 posts
Posted on 3/2/19 at 11:02 am to
quote:

service stations are right on the highway right-of-way. You don’t have to exit at all—you just merge over into the parking lot.



quote:

These are amazing. I've seen them in France, Italy, Germany, and England. I wish we had them in the USA


We do, every toll highway has them, because they have captive drivers. They are convenient, but the gas and everything else costs more because there is no competition.
Posted by Tigris
Mexican Home
Member since Jul 2005
12356 posts
Posted on 3/2/19 at 11:10 am to
quote:

Slovenia, Croatia and Italy


Romania too, they have great, modern gas stations with anything you'd want to buy at good prices. That surprised me, but with the collapse of the Soviet Union investors (often Germans) went in to Romania and built gas stations and big box stores everywhere. They were desperately needed. Romania went straight from having no real stores to big box stores almost overnight. They never really had a mom-and-pop store phase. It's a place that is largely overlooked for travel and I really want to get back there.
Posted by LoneStarRanger
Texas/Europe
Member since Aug 2018
2404 posts
Posted on 3/3/19 at 12:16 am to
quote:

64 ounce soda and a pack of smokes to go with your lotto tickets.


That’s very common. Convenience stores are all over. Mostly called « tabacs ». You also have just regular little bodegas. Europeans love smokes and the lotto.
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora, Georgia
Member since Sep 2012
63958 posts
Posted on 3/4/19 at 12:54 pm to
quote:

Germany has all of this, but they have a strong driving culture. They're the closest to the US when it comes to gas stations and convenient stores.


I noticed this too. One weird thing is they don't sell any medicine, not aspirin, not pepto, not immodium, nada. You have to go to the pharmacy for even basic shite.

Also, many of them have turnstiles you have to pay to use the bathroom, it doesn't matter how much $ you just spent in their store. I got the impression the bathrooms are operated by another company, like a vending machine, the other company keeps up the bathroom and collects the money, on a nightly basis I imagine.
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora, Georgia
Member since Sep 2012
63958 posts
Posted on 3/4/19 at 12:56 pm to
quote:

France’s autoroutes are interesting: on the biggest highways, the service stations are right on the highway right-of-way. You don’t have to exit at all—you just merge over into the parking lot.



Connecticut has these. I haven't seen them anywhere else in the US though.
Posted by Spirit of Dunson
Member since Mar 2007
23111 posts
Posted on 3/4/19 at 2:30 pm to
quote:

Also, many of them have turnstiles you have to pay to use the bathroom, it doesn't matter how much $ you just spent in their store. I got the impression the bathrooms are operated by another company, like a vending machine, the other company keeps up the bathroom and collects the money, on a nightly basis I imagine.
this is how it works. You get a receipt from the bathroom that you can use in the rest stop though. So it really only costs like 20 cents, but ensures clean bathrooms.
Posted by TejasHorn
High Plains Driftin'
Member since Mar 2007
10917 posts
Posted on 3/4/19 at 3:38 pm to
We came across a couple of American-like c-stores/gas stations along the road in Normandy, France. I think they were Totals but definitely reminded of home.

What Europe needs is a few Buc-ees.
Posted by mizslu314
Dirty STL
Member since Sep 2013
15972 posts
Posted on 3/4/19 at 3:44 pm to
according to Google maps, theres 12 gas stations' in all of London.
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