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Death of AM/PM

Posted: June 9th, 2018, 9:34 pm
by storewanderer
Are Am/Pms debranding at a rapid rate (but staying Arco) in other areas or is northern Nevada an odd case? The Arcos up here are all owned by different people so it isn't a case of some multi-site operator deciding to do independent.

So far in the past year, two Am/Pms in Carson City have gone to no-name c-store format.

More recently I have observed in Minden, NV the Arco has replaced its roadside sign to just say "Arco" but the building still has an AM PM sign so this one is still an Am/Pm but I wonder why the roadside sign was replaced...

And in the past few weeks one Am/Pm has taken down its signs at Rock/Victorian in Sparks (now the Rock'n B Mini Mart still with Arco) and a second Am/Pm in Reno on Sierra Highlands Drive has removed its Am/Pm exterior signage and is now "Sierra ARCO."

Also telling is how sloppy the debrandings are. I went into the "Sierra ARCO" and they still have AM PM signs all over the wall above the soda machine, still using Am/Pm cups, still using Am/Pm plastic bags, etc.

Re: Death of AM/PM

Posted: June 9th, 2018, 9:41 pm
by SamSpade
Still AM/PM in the Portland area. Saw a TV ad bookend with "toomgis / #tmgs" their mascot. I wish our locations were as nice as the one in this ad! (The topping bar made it resemble a Maverik)

Re: Death of AM/PM

Posted: June 9th, 2018, 10:50 pm
by storewanderer
SamSpade wrote: June 9th, 2018, 9:41 pm Still AM/PM in the Portland area. Saw a TV ad bookend with "toomgis / #tmgs" their mascot. I wish our locations were as nice as the one in this ad! (The topping bar made it resemble a Maverik)
I assume they are stronger in the BP-controlled regions.

I am in a Tesoro-controlled region.

Re: Death of AM/PM

Posted: June 10th, 2018, 1:05 am
by jamcool
I assume Arco has a smaller store count in N Nevada than in Vegas.
The whole Arco/Am-Pm situation is complicated now with Marathon acquiring Andeavor (Tesoro). BP licenses the Am-Pm name to Andeavor in SoCal/AZ/NV. Andeavor licenses the ARCO brand to BP in NoCal and the Northwest. Marathon has its own convenience store brand - Speedway- and probably doesn’t want to pay the licensing fees to a competitor.

Re: Death of AM/PM

Posted: June 10th, 2018, 3:20 pm
by Brian Lutz
No changes I've seen here, although I rarely visit one. Arco gas has a bit of a reputation as being of poor quality, so a fair number of people avoid it entirely.

Re: Death of AM/PM

Posted: June 10th, 2018, 7:27 pm
by Super S
AM/PM seemed to be stagnant for a while in my area. Several locations closed, a couple became Chevron, others sat vacant for several years. One in Vancouver, WA recently reopened as an AM/PM, while another in Longview, WA recently reopened as a liquor store (the gas pumps and canopy were removed) There is also a new-build within the last few years along Cornelius Pass Road near Hillsboro, OR.

AM/PM makes up for low gas prices by charging some of the highest prices I have ever seen in my life in their stores. Higher than most other convenience stores. I also avoid them.

Re: Death of AM/PM

Posted: June 10th, 2018, 10:16 pm
by storewanderer
Super S wrote: June 10th, 2018, 7:27 pm AM/PM seemed to be stagnant for a while in my area. Several locations closed, a couple became Chevron, others sat vacant for several years. One in Vancouver, WA recently reopened as an AM/PM, while another in Longview, WA recently reopened as a liquor store (the gas pumps and canopy were removed) There is also a new-build within the last few years along Cornelius Pass Road near Hillsboro, OR.

AM/PM makes up for low gas prices by charging some of the highest prices I have ever seen in my life in their stores. Higher than most other convenience stores. I also avoid them.
Well, some AM PMs charge super high prices. Others charge "market rate" type prices. That is one of the problems I have with them. They do not control their franchisees well at all. The 35 cent debit fee (or weird credit card policies up in WA; I've seen $5 minimum, $10 minimum, etc.) doesn't help either.

Re: Death of AM/PM

Posted: June 11th, 2018, 8:57 am
by SamSpade
There was a Toomgis radio ad on in the Bay Area as well.

It will sure be interesting to see how this all sorts out ... eventually. :)

Re: Death of AM/PM

Posted: June 22nd, 2018, 10:25 am
by storewanderer
Two more AM/PMs in Reno gone:

One on South Virginia is still Arco but the store is now the "Food Market Food Mart" (yes this is what the sign says). What is funny is this (older station) got reimaged/repainted into new Arco and new AM PM colors last year. Inside has not been touched since the late 90's.

The other at 1390 South Virginia has left both Arco and AM PM and is now "US Gas." Condition was probably poor enough on this one that it was time to go. Too small of a lot to demolish/rebuild also. Inside there also has not been touched since the late 90's and they still had the old pre-BP Arco canopy but last year it was painted solid white.

These stations that are leaving one or both brands in my area have been Arco sites for 30+ years so it is very strange to see this.

Re: Death of AM/PM

Posted: July 14th, 2018, 7:51 am
by Alpha8472
AM PM is weak in the San Francisco Bay Area. Many ARCO gas stations do not have AMPM stores. They usually have a small store barely large enough for the cashier and a few items.

I know of one nice AMPM in Concord, California that was built a few years ago and for a while its photo was on the front page of the AMPM website. It is a nice looking store, but it is nothing special. Chevron Extra Mile stores have a better selection and at least Chevron takes credit cards. AMPM charges a fee for debit and does not take credit.

The only reason to go to AMPM is for their mobile phone app. If you check in on the app you can win free items such as a free coffee or cookies.