No large C-store gas stations in Austin

[timtemtym]

That bothered me when I lived in Austin, Houston too is a desert of these type stores! The 7-11s in Austin were almost ALL run down older stores. Here in LA we have those and AM/PM which is pretty good too, but I'd LOVE a good QuikTrip! They are in Phoenix, DFW, and the Kansas City area. For some reason they have very targeted markets and they don't stray from them too much. Whenever I go to Phoenix I stop by just for the insane coffee bar!

[Antny12]

Yeah its odd because at home I would never get 711..it was more of a rare slurpee place lol.

[RoadWarrior12]

So, you're telling me that you cross the country to a formerly sovereign nation, and things are different than where you came from?

Wow. Who'd have guessed.

[timtemtym]

Originally Posted by RoadWarrior12

Sadly, I deliberately baited that response, just to post this - hopefully, it can help you understand what long-time residents feel like. Has nothing to do with your sheets.

OOOh Texas needs A Sheetz gas station. Now that is the best! Pizza, made to order sandwich bar, awesome coffee and drink selection. It's like a mini truck stop.

[A-Tex]

I much prefer the types of convenience stores we have here that sell a nice range of gourmet and natural products, beers and wines and foods from local vendors --- Rosedale Market, Thom's Market and Sunrise Mini Mart for instance.

[mesmer]

Originally Posted by Antny12

Didn't realize that! I guess in my mind I thought that bp was more wide spread like shell! I used to only get gas there but now I really don't care and get gas at hebs or 711.

They are pretty widespread from the midwest eastward. I don't know why people are jumping on you for asking about BP. There used to be one on Burnet but it got switched to something else after the oil spill. The BP brand took a big hit.

[centralaustinite]

There are often interesting histories behind regional variations in the US, like how Standard Oil was broken up and yes, that directly impacts how gas stations and convenience stores developed, see scm's response upthread.

I would suggest getting a subscription to Texas Monthly (great writing and cheap!) and start learning about Texas history (and/or delve into the history of Chicago). There are often specific historic reasons or geographic factors behind the differences you are experiencing. Once you have a better grasp of why these variations exist you may 1) understand them better and 2) understand why your phrasing of these contrasts often sounds like nails on a blackboard to some here.