Gas Station Closures!

[TaxmanHog]

I suppose you could attribute this to economic conditions, or a business owners change of life plans, but I find it ODD the several of our local gas stations run under a variety of franchises: Mobil, BP & independent all closed early this week or late last week.

First I consider this normal ebb & flow of business and certainly not uncommon to occur at the quarterly turning point 3/31, 6/30, 9/30..12/31.

All these business are owned middle eastern immigrants prominently running these stores for a good 10+ years this fact has tripped my paranoid alarm.

I admit I'm venturing into wild eyed speculation......but.......what if these fine folks have decided to wrap up their profits and roll out of town to points unknown, maybe to their home country?, maybe to disappear into the fabric of our society to commence with some diabolical plans, or just rolling off into the sunset to retire?

Hard to tell what is actually going on though, no mention in the local rag about these business closing.

I plan to keep an eye on the real estate transfers to see if the properties have changed hands too, IIRC some of the locations were owned by the corporate principal in separate asset trusts & corporations.

Have any of you folks notice similar trend in your areas with small mom&pop type establishments Gas, convenience, etc) folding suddenly?

[nelson]

I'll keep my eyes open when I get back home.

[right$pecial]

I'll look around when I get back home. That is awful strange.

[Remphoto]

No changes here in heartland but we don't have many of the immigrat types you described in these businesses (only hotels but that is everywhere).

[MYCAR47562]

Actually Yea We Had One Close Down About 2 Weeks Ago But That Easily Could Have Been Just Poor Location (4-5 Owners Last 10 Years) The Station Across The Street From Them Is Owned By Middle Eastern People. Very Freindly Guys Still Open Last I Saw.

[gtrman66]

We just had a "mom & pop" Valero change to an Exxon.

Another closed gas station was being remodeled and that suddenly stopped last week.

It is an interesting theory.

[MYCAR47562]

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0516-25.htm

GO READ THAT LINK.....

[coolbreeze]

Haven't noticed it here, but staying vigilent is prudent for sure.

[TaxmanHog]

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0516-25.htm

GO READ THAT LINK.....

I'll never buy fuel from CITGO....:gun:

[TaxmanHog]

The idiot with diplomatic immunity appears to be testing our security protocols.

SANS.ORG, had a ~Problem~ with their Cyber Security Web site today, somebody may be testing their resilience, note this org is a group of volunteers who serve nationally & worldwide as an early warning system to malicious activity on the web.

Earlier this week Iran reiterated it's intent to DESTROY Israel if they attack IRAN.

My Radar is getting more focused..

[Remphoto]

I'll never buy fuel from CITGO....:gun:

I agree. After it became widespread who owned CITGO, our local CITGO station switched companies. Can't believe they are all over Texas. I avoid them like the plague.

[HoldHard]

I agree. After it became widespread who owned CITGO, our local CITGO station switched companies. Can't believe they are all over Texas. I avoid them like the plague.The article calls Chavez' government a democracy.... :rofl

HH

[Al the Auto Mechanic]

There are dozens of independent gas stores closed all around here.Other business's are closed and I still see others going down weekly.
Loosing the space shuttle is going to kill the area surrounding.
I don't see any specific ethnic group involved.

[Remphoto]

I suspect the oil companies are following the same strategy used by GM and Ford and are taking out "excess capacity". Too many stations and they compete with themselves. I know that Marathon Oil, headquartered near me in Findlay, OH, has yanked leases on some longtime dealers, removed the tanks and marketed the land for other uses. Aging underground storage tanks and tough EPA rules may be adding to the closures.

[TaxmanHog]

I suspect the oil companies are following the same strategy used by GM and Ford and are taking out "excess capacity". Too many stations and they compete with themselves. I know that Marathon Oil, headquartered near me in Findlay, OH, has yanked leases on some longtime dealers, removed the tanks and marketed the land for other uses. Aging underground storage tanks and tough EPA rules may be adding to the closures.

You are probably right, the Mobil lessor or the franchisee spent BIG bucks last summer rehabilitating the property in town, all new tanks, canopy & pumps. Now they decide to close?!?

[TaxmanHog]

Turns out the property I was concerned about was sold on 3/31 for 1,600,000 bucks, the owner had paid only 510K for it in 2007, last city appraisal was 850K, he sold it for 1.6 million. paid off the 750K mortgage.

[Remphoto]

Turns out the property I was concerned about was sold on 3/31 for 1,600,000 bucks, the owner had paid only 510K for it in 2007, last city appraisal was 850K, he sold it for 1.6 million. paid off the 750K mortgage.

So, who bought it? US Government for a welfare office?:)

[TaxmanHog]

An LLC with at least two principals, hope to see it open for business soon.

[TaxmanHog]

So, the guys nabbed today are linked to the NYC bomber, Mobil. Gas station big cash business able to support a hawala exchange operation, not that the owners of that station are the same folks. But it strikes me that they facilitate these cash transfers from around the world to the benefit of legal and illicit activity