So many great names to call this place, and now it's gone!
So far I've heard:
The Grab and Stab
The Crack Station
The Murder Mart
Anyone else got one?
Anyone who doesn't appreciate this article either didn't live in the neighborhood or has never hung out in the crossroads long enough to need beer after Cellar Rat is closed. This place was suuuper shady, but amazingly enough had a pretty good selection of craft beer. Plus! For the longest time they screwed up their beer pricing in the system when they rang it up. I always had to correct them because the sticker price was different than what rang up. Because of this, for the last like 3 years I've only paid $6.99 for every six pack I ever bought. I loved that place! It was so delightfully shitty. I also...can not wait for the idea of a gas station that actually sells gas. Bring on the new Phillips!
This gas station isn't even "downtown." It's in the Crossroads. Both Grand Slam and the completely-overlooked-by-you gas station at 6th and Wyandotte are located in downtown.
@Skill:
The sad thing is this is the hardest anybody in the Pitch has worked on a music section story in recent memory. 95% of what is posted in the music section is a Youtube video and a mention that a band is playing soon. Takes about 2 minutes and approximately zero effort. It's much easier to interview your coworkers about a gas station. And it's really entertaining, too. If you work(ed) at the Pitch.
If you want to re live your glory days of the Valero at 17th and Grand , look no further than the Valero at 10th and Burlington in NKC. Same strange food items offered up way past their expiration date, disheveled homeless guys, and cashiers fresh out of the Leavenworth pen. All the same shit that would never fly at your local Quik Trip !!
If you want to re live your glory days of the Valero at 17th and Grand, look no further than the Valero at 10th and Burlington in NKC. Same strange food items past their expiration date, , plenty of disheveled homeless guys, and the usual oddball casheirs. All the shit that you expect from a metro area Valero that would never fly in a local Quik Trip .
I always found being downtown a quick run to NKC and the gas stations on Burlington a better deal. One of these days Red-X will have gas pumps for total 1-stop shopping.
I was hit on by a prostitute in the parking there back in 1996-97. It made my day.
I wanted to believe they gouged on gas so much to raise funds for new pumps. I left once after $3 of gas took 5 minutes to trickle out. I'm guessing this gouging took place to afford the drugs the employees desperately needed to use to be as nice as they were, despite working in that hell hole. Never forget.
Freaking loved that station - I was bummed when I saw it closing. It was the highlight of week on many occasions.
Go Chicken Go
NOOOO, not the grab and stab!!!!
My favorite memory, among many, was the time I once saw two guys attempting to fill up three 64 ounce styrofoam drink cups with gas.
Bartering for a single slice of Kraft Singles, hysterical! What would you do with such slice? Melt it over something, put the whole thing in your mouth, smoke it, or try to nibble the slice into funny shapes for something to do? I truly want to know!!! Obvisouly there are places where people can at least get a simple hot meal for free (ahem, a voluntary donation), thus why would someone try to negotiate their way into becoming a proud owner of a single slice of Kraft Singles!
@Skill: This week is our Best Of issue, a special issue. In addition to a number of music-related Best Ofs in the Arts & Entertainment section, we also have a story about a local band, Gentleman Savage, which you can read here:
http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/gentleman-…
And our weekly Forecast, which highlights shows around town we recommend:
http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/crystal-ca…
David Hudnall
Music Editor
Jesus. This is just sad. And no, I'm not talking about the shuttering of Valero. I guess we can officially kiss music coverage in the Pitch goodbye with these sorts of imbecilic scribblings serving as the section lead.
Haven't been there yet, but what would really be wrong with playing all Billie Holiday, Ella, et al? Blues, jazz, and the Garment District are huge parts of KC history. It's in our blood, especially for those of us who have ancestors who worked in the district.
For some reason, this article makes me think of Stuart Smally. "I'm good enough. I'm smart enough. And doggone it, people like me."
I suppose for many, this mode of thinking is a coping mechanism, reinforced by presentations such as this. Some folks can handle having free will and shit happening to them, others can't. Enter stage left: religion and predestination.
But goddamn does it rake in the cash!
It must be nice to live a life sublimely stupid like the crowd you photographed. To just think some mysterious force has already mapped your life out and you can't do anything about it. You don't even get to live your life.
We had a great time when we were at Garment House. I loved not having to pay for cocktails once I was in. Their drink list was surprisingly fun and delicious as well...and I am thankful for the effort to keep out the "douche-bags" LOL
Re: “Valero Days: Remembering downtown's nastiest gas station”
We always called it the Ghetto-Mart