Gas stations sell gasoline and may offer additional services such as oil changes and repairs. The first service station opened in Germany in 1888, and the first official one in the US opened in St. Louis in 1905. Modern gas stations have self-service options and may offer snacks, drinks, and even auto repair services.
A gas station is a business that sells gasoline for cars, trucks, and other automobiles. Depending on the location, a service station may be known by any number of names; These include gas station, gas station, gasoline bunk, gas station, and gas bar. Some service stations offer additional automotive services such as oil changes, tire repair, and other auto repairs. This type of station that provides additional services is often called a garage, service station, or gas garage.
When automobiles first hit the roads, pharmacies were the primary suppliers of gas. This was often done as an additional source of income for the pharmacy. Since automobiles were quite rare when the auto industry was in its infancy, this small-scale fueling option met the limited demand for gasoline. The first recorded service station was part of a pharmacy in Wiesloch, Germany, and opened in 1888. The inaugural customer was a member of the Benz family, of Mercedes-Benz fame, who filled up his car at this station.
The first official service station opened in St. Louis in 1905. During this time, American automobile manufacturer Henry Ford had developed the first gasoline-powered vehicles considered affordable by the car-buying public. Later service stations sprang up in Seattle, Washington, and Altoona, Pennsylvania.
In a modern fuel station, the mechanisms that supply gas to the pumps are located below the floor. Gas pumps are typically located at the front or, in some places, the sides of the building. The building itself is traditionally on the smaller side, with a cashier or attendant working inside who can turn the pumps on and off for customers. Certain gas stations have attendants who pump gas for buyers; this was usual when the stations began to become popular. In more recent times, the vast majority of service stations have gradually evolved to a self-service format with pay-at-the-pump options.
Many service stations offer much more than fuel. In addition to air tanks for filling tires, windshield-cleaning paraphernalia, and vacuum cleaners for cleaning car interiors, most service stations offer miniature supermarkets where customers can buy goods or use the restroom. Most sell drinks and snacks, and many offer meals and prepared meals for a quick bite on the go. It is also common to see mechanical and auto repair shops at service stations, expanding the services offered and providing help to motorists with automobile problems.
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