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I was driving past 5-corners this a.m. and as I saw the old Mobil station in my rear view mirror I thought it looked kinda cool - a decent example of what service stations used to look like.
There has long been a debate over what should be done with that property at one of the main entrances to our town. Has it ever been discussed redoing the place like a 40s-50s service station - Mobil or otherwise?
-I could imagine it might be cheaper to rehab the existing building/layout, than repurposing it. -It kinda makes sense to have it across the road from the old tavern. The tavern serviced travellers during one era, an old gas station serviced them in another. -I could imagine getting some assistance from any number of local car clubs to fix up the area, and then maybe it could be used by the car clubs for meetings/displays. -I know wherever there is a neat old gas station or roadhouse, car and bike guys flock from all over to take pics of their rides in front of the period signs, pumps, etc. Could be a draw for the town...
Is this a totally crazy idea, or does it have any merit?
Ya' know, when I initially saw your post I thought you were nuts....then I read it and realized that you make sense. I hadn't thought about that. The 40s & 50s were also a part of GE history, I'd think the Historical Society wouldn't mind getting into that game. Selling stuff inside from the era and using the land to draw people in for shows and photo ops....good call, Dins. Have you approached any of the village people (pun intended) about it?
Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements....even if it leads nowhere - Adele
I say you turn it into a "Zooms", where the theme is slot cars for kids. You know, kind of like Toots is to trains. I've come to the conclusion, that whatever you put in GE, if it doesn't make all the kids nag the crap out of their parents to take them there 24/7/365....it probably won't last very long... I'm a regular at Toots, thanks to my 3 year old son. I honestly love going there with him!
What?? Would you rather it turn into another Subway??
I'd love to see it cater to more than the 5% of the population that would be interested in that nostalgic tripe. 5% and dwindling . . . only to be replaced by oldies like me who don't give a **** about the 40's and 50's. Maybe every 20 years they could ratchet up the decades to appeal to those who are currently old. Wait . . . something as you described wouldn't last more than 20 months in today's market, so forget it.
If you had $$$ to invest in the project you described, how much would you throw in?
Just what this town needs, more acquisitions and development by the GEHS. Best guess . . . they have already learned their lesson and will tell you the 40's and 50's can pound sand.
Posts: 9128 | Location: CLEA | Registered: November 04, 2004
We should do a 90s theme. Have kids in Pearl Jam-esque flannel and ripped jeans or maybe kids in KidnPlay high-top fades serving food.
Plus, that would align with the glory days of Glen Ellyn I keep hearing about around town from the 50 yr olds when their kids were in school... before it all changed.
Umm. Do you mean Meet the New Bosses Same as the Old Bosses?
Wasn't referring to the political climate, as you are most likely well aware. Rather, the physical appearance of our dilapidated retail stock in the CBD and Five Corners.
If you'd like a real rant and bit of bitterness, I'll go so far as to say that I was and always will be disappointed that those shortsighted preservationists and real estate happy historians couldn't put their brainpower together to save that building on the corner of Main and St. Charles. For the seven figures they spent on the building and the curious park they built among other things, they could have renovated that building for a third of the cost and had a show place . . . instead of what is now a series of benches, flagpoles and planters straight out of a commercial gardening catalog. That's why I am crabass. And if if one more person tells me that a well-known landscape architect firm from the city designed that . . . I will just die.
The corner needs a gas station and full service car wash . . . IMO.
Posts: 9128 | Location: CLEA | Registered: November 04, 2004
How about a 50's style drive-in root beer and burger joint, like the old A&W we used to have on Roosevelt when I was slightly younger? I think they might have the space there for something like that.
I'd still like to see it be a great breakfast diner with counter service. An old fashioned greasy spoon. Actually, it should be called The Grease Station.
Originally posted by Cannes: I'd still like to see it be a great breakfast diner with counter service. An old fashioned greasy spoon. Actually, it should be called The Grease Station.
I knew you had a favoring towards the southern lifestyle!
Now we just need to influence a little Texas in your approach so we can get the Hooter girls on rollerskates to sling the grits at The Grease Station!
I know..I know...bad NC211..back to the basement I go...
