OT: Outdoor bathrooms at old gas stations
Pete Jenior
outside. This is inconvinient becasue it typically requires getting a key
from the main indoor area, going outside and using the bathroom, and then
returning the key. I can't recall a gas station that appeared to be built
in, say, the last 20 years being designed like this.
Why was this once done?
Pete
Larry Sheldon
Just a guess, but, those station buildings were (apparently) built to
occupy the smallest possible "footprint" (a term that was not used then,
I think).
There were one or two service bays (sized to fit the bigger cars of the
day) in (usually) the left half of the building. The right half was
divided into three pieces. The rear half was divided into two
parts--the left piece of the rear part was storeroom--open to the
service bay(s). The remainder of the rear half was the restrooms and
the only place to put the doors to them was to the outside, although
some had the front one (almost always the "Women's") opened into the
office (front) area).
The office area was the front part of the right end, and had a "L"
shaped counter whose rear area opened into the service bay.
The area in front of the counter opened to the fuel islands, and perhaps
to the service bay. And maybe to the Women's restroom. The area
between the counter and the front of the building contained gedunk and
motor-oil displays and such. The coke machine probably stood outside
the door to the fuel islands.
In order to accommodate interior restrooms, coffee bars, groceries and
so forth requires larger buildings and the changing mores requiring
continuous surveillance also argues for everything being where the
cameras can see it.
(Some old stations had the restrooms in a separate building in the back
or side of the building--reminiscent of holes-in-the-ground latrines,
although I never saw such a thing--just some that smelled like it.
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Otto Yamamoto
There are a very few stations like that left around this area. I like the
use of the term 'gedunk'. Reminds me of my Navy days.
--
Otto Yamamoto
Scott M. Kozel
Probably because before then they could be left unlocked during business
hours without the owner worrying about abuse. I.e. it made
architectural sense when they were built. I still see some with
unlocked doors in some areas.
--
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hanc...@bbs.cpcn.com
Do modern gas stations even have restrooms? Whether an old 1950s
style building or a modern one, they seem to be set up to maximize
security for the attendant--for good reason--and perhaps sell some
snacks, but nothing else. There aren't many classic ones that have
service bays associated with them.
I thought most gas stations simply eliminated their bathrooms due to
security problems, cost of maintenance and cleaning, etc.
gpsman
> in, say, the last 20 years being designed like this.
>
> Why was this once done?
So that access to and from remained more or less in public view (the
gas jockey could not, for example, corner a woman, inside, behind 2
doors) and they could be left available when the gas station was
closed (back when gas stations closed) and midnight poop artists were
not so prevalent and dedicated.
The key routine was instituted so that people might not so
conveniently and comfortably lay in wait to bash someone's brains out,
etc.
-----
- gpsman
Otto Yamamoto
> Do modern gas stations even have restrooms? Whether an old 1950s style
> building or a modern one, they seem to be set up to maximize security
> for the attendant--for good reason--and perhaps sell some snacks, but
> nothing else. There aren't many classic ones that have service bays
> associated with them.
>
> I thought most gas stations simply eliminated their bathrooms due to
> security problems, cost of maintenance and cleaning, etc.
In SE NY, yes, many do. Not all of them, but your better convenience
chains like On the Run, Stewarts, Quik Chek and the like are pretty well
guaranteed to have decent and clean facilities that are open to the
general public. You're not obliged to buy anything, either, but I usually
do.
--
Otto Yamamoto
Scott M. Kozel
>
> Do modern gas stations even have restrooms? Whether an old 1950s
> style building or a modern one, they seem to be set up to maximize
> security for the attendant--for good reason--and perhaps sell some
> snacks, but nothing else. There aren't many classic ones that have
> service bays associated with them.
Most in my state do, places like Wawa, Sheetz, Valero, etc. always do,
including most 7/11s. Granted they don't have service bays...
Andrew M. Saucci, Jr.
honorable thing to do. In the long run it makes sense, too. After all, if no
one ever bought anything, the facility would not be there.
As an aside, I've often stopped at public libraries in my travels if
I'm not in the mood to buy anything. That can be an interesting diversion
while off the beaten path. Of course, I'm not much for interstates, so this
is often a realistic option for me.
"Otto Yamamoto" <ot...@yamamoto.cc> wrote in message
news:4b48218c$0$31264$607e...@cv.net...
US 71
"Andrew M. Saucci, Jr." <spam...@anti-grunge.org> wrote
> As an aside, I've often stopped at public libraries in my travels if
> I'm not in the mood to buy anything. That can be an interesting diversion
> while off the beaten path. Of course, I'm not much for interstates, so this
> is often a realistic option for me.
>
I'll sometimes stop at McDonald's, then sneak back out the side door ;)
But only if really need a break and there's nothing else around.
I'm not crazy about their food, but their restrooms are *usually* some of the
best.
US 71
"Scott in SoCal" <scotte...@yahoo.com> wrote
> Having a public restroom is a "killer app" for a roadside business.
> People come in because they have an urgent need, and most then make
> impulse purchases on the way out.
Having one that's van accessible is even better:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2600/4169564902_80cdf610fa_b.jpg
Frito Pendejo
> On Jan 8, 8:41 pm, "Pete Jenior" <pete.jen...@FILTERgmail.com> wrote:
>> Many old gas stations have bathrooms that are only accessable from
>> the outside. This is inconvinient becasue it typically requires
>> getting a key from the main indoor area, going outside and using the
>> bathroom, and then returning the key. I can't recall a gas station
>> that appeared to be built in, say, the last 20 years being designed
>> like this.
>
> Do modern gas stations even have restrooms? Whether an old 1950s
> style building or a modern one, they seem to be set up to maximize
> security for the attendant--for good reason--and perhaps sell some
> snacks, but nothing else. There aren't many classic ones that have
> service bays associated with them.
I've noticed that some Murphy (Wal Mart) gas stations have a bathroom with
an outside door.
Rich Piehl
I've sometimes seen them at stations where they have a separate free
standing car wash. I guess it's cheaper to put the major plumbing for
toilets in with the plumbing for car wash and then run a small water and
drain line to the attendant building for an ice machine, hand sink
and/or janitor sink.
hanc...@bbs.cpcn.com
wrote:
> I think that buying something after using someone's restroom is an
> honorable thing to do. In the long run it makes sense, too. After all, if no
> one ever bought anything, the facility would not be there.
I've gotten yelled by places for buying "only" a soda.
hanc...@bbs.cpcn.com
> I'll sometimes stop at McDonald's, then sneak back out the side door ;)
Some fast food places lock their bathrooms and one must ask at the
counter to be buzzed in.
US 71
<hanc...@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote in message
news:7f722eac-13fa-4ed6...@34g2000yqp.googlegroups.com...
Sheesh! A bottle soda, maybe, but the mark-up on fountain drinks is insane:
nearly 75 percent profit when I worked for EZ Mart.
Scott M. Kozel
Nobody has ever said anything to me regardless of what I bought or
didn't buy.
Tom
>
> Sheesh! A bottle soda, maybe, but the mark-up on fountain drinks is insane:
> nearly 75 percent profit when I worked for EZ Mart.
At which point I leave the soda on their counter and leave, making a
big act of returning my money to my wallet.
John Lansford
Back in a more innocent time, the gas stations would close but for
public convenience the bathrooms were still accessible by the
travellng public. If they were in the building then they would be
locked up when the gas station closed.
Now, with the advent of 24 hour stations and rest areas, the need for
publicly available rest rooms on private property is less, and the
increase in crime/unacceptable activity in unwatched locations makes
outdoor accessible restrooms less popular.
There's still plenty of these in rural areas that don't need key entry
for their use, though, but even in those locations they are starting
to disappear.
John Lansford, PE
--
John's Shop of Wood
http://wood.jlansford.net/
Lepidopteran
> hanc...@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>>
>> Do modern gas stations even have restrooms?
>
> Most in my state do, places like Wawa, Sheetz, Valero, etc. always do,
> including most 7/11s. Granted they don't have service bays...
Back in the 1970s, it seemed like the big trend was to do away with the
"service" part of the station, and put a convenience store in the former
service bays. I've even seen some where the interior was barely
refinished, and the access was through the old side door leading to the
counter area. The garage doors might have been sealed or permanently shut,
or maybe with a glass door assembly put in the middle of one.
Regarding gas stations without restrooms, I would think they all still have
them, since the staff have their calls to nature. They might not be open
to customers, tho, or one of those if-you-ask-politely-they-let-you-use-it
deals.
cgpo...@gmail.com
H.B. Elkins
cgpo...@gmail.com says...
>Sounds like a way for creeps to easily sneak up on you
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To reply by e-mail, remove the "restrictorplate"
Larry Sheldon
> In article <0c4d0d0d-9217-4b57...@googlegroups.com>,
> cgpo...@gmail.com says...
>>
>> Sounds like a way for creeps to easily sneak up on you
>
> That's why there are locks on the doors.
issuing Executive Orders creating creeps, that I remember.
--
quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
-- Juvenal
Larry Sheldon
> On 3/20/2019 10:43, H.B. Elkins wrote:
>> In article <0c4d0d0d-9217-4b57...@googlegroups.com>,
>> cgpo...@gmail.com says...
>>>
>>> Sounds like a way for creeps to easily sneak up on you
>>
>> That's why there are locks on the doors.
>
> And we didn't have "press" and other politicians talking about and
> issuing Executive Orders creating creeps, that I remember.
>
>
