Our Bob

Full service in Burlingame as reported in the San Mateo Times:

BURLINGAME Coast Gasoline is in a time warp. It is also an oddity. Since the 1960s, it has continued as a full-service gas station at 988 Howard Ave. off Myrtle Road, while being surrounded by self-service gas station giants. Owner Bob Lugliani the third person to own the business keeps it a neighborhood station. "It's what it's always been," the Burlingame resident said. "A lot of older people come in who don't want to learn how to use a pump and that's what they want." The station, which was built in the 1960s, was first called Old County Exxon, said Lugliani, 52. He bought the station and an auto repair shop next to it in the 1980s and then bought the property in 1993. He has about 75 regular customers with one or two new customers a week. Lugliani's gas station has been one of a very few fullservice gas stations in San Mateo County that continues to fill gas tanks, check tires, oil and clean windows. The service is done within minutes. "Somehow, people got away from it," Lugliani said. He's worked at gas stations since high school. "The big gas stations wanted to downsize the amount of employees, cut overhead and reduce the price of gas." He said he also noticed a change in people with fluctuating gas prices. "They shop more for price and have started not caring about service," Lugliani said. At the moment, his station sells regular gas for $2.29 a gallon and supreme for $2.42. "The customers I have pretty much don't really look at the price. I'm not the highest and not the cheapest price. I'm in the middle of the road. They are happy to sit there and be served or be waited on."

Still, he found people who weren't exactly enthusiastic about his service. Lugliani recalls a woman in her pajamas who wouldn't pay extra to sit in her car. Instead, she went to another station that was 10 cents cheaper, Lugliani said. "That to me boggled my mind," he said. "I really thought people would embrace full-service again. It's an old-fashion thing, especially in this area where people here are more of a crowd that remembers that." John of JJ's Trucking has been going to Coast Gasoline for about a year. His presence triggers a bell, letting Lugliani know that there is a customer waiting. "It's about convenience," John said. "(And) I'm lazy, I hate to get out of the car." He likes that he knows the employees at the station. "I feel comfortable," he said. "I feel like they're taking care of me and don't feel like I'm getting screwed. There's a good trust here."

- Written by Fiona

Comments

Thanks for posting this, Fiona. I guess I'm one of the loyal 75. I hate pumping gas, and these folks are true gems. They clean windows, pump tires, check oil; all with a smile. They also plug flats. A bit of old Burlingame has survived all these years. Let's make sure Bob will be there for us for many more years- 'fill it up!

I'd like to think that I am one of the loyal 75 as well. Here's hoping those 75 grow into a much bigger number for Bob. He provides good old fashioned service with a smile.