Service Stations Are Filling Bellies, Tanks

In Woodland Hills, saleswoman Danielle LaRocca checked on her order: a chicken salad, dressing on the side, fried crunchy wonton noodles on the top. Over in Westwood, Laurie Tynan wanted a pulled-pork sandwich. In Santa Monica, paninis were on the grill.

Tasty food is nothing new in Los Angeles, a city where restaurants dot every block. But these made-to-order meals are being served up at gas stations, where cheap hot dogs and warmed-up pizza are starting to be replaced by freshly baked croissants for breakfast and Cobb salads for lunch.

Welcome to the evolving urban gas station.

The first filling stations began popping up in the United States around 1905. By the 1950s, most were places where workers pumped gas, mechanics fixed carburetors, and Coke and candy came from a vending machine. Then came self-service gas, carwashes and mini-markets.

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