Those old side of the road filling stations in rural areas are some of the coolest. You’ll find them in downtowns as well. Some of those places have been saved and given new life. Stops along Winchester’s Service Station Grub Trail are prime examples.
Auto Fuel to People Fuel
A 1920s Esso station in downtown Winchester has been Bonnie Blue Southern Market & Bakery since 2012. With its baby blue paint and red roof, you can’t miss it. In the time since their opening, they’ve received awards and national acclaim for their southern barbeque. New York Times has dubbed them one of the “13 Essential BBQ Stops” for your travel lists.
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Pizzoco is exactly what you think it is: pizza. And it takes its name as a spin on its residence: a 1920s Conoco service station. Pizzoco … Conoco … you get the idea. If you lean on public reviews to make a dining selection, this one scores high. It’s the number one pizzeria in Virginia, based on Yelp! reviews. Try one of their specialties like the Appalachiarita featuring red sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and evoo. Plus, ordering the Appalachiarita helps you pronounce Applacahia correctly. App-uh-latch-uh. Or as an Appalachian Fiction professor once told us, “It’s as if I said, ‘I’m going to throw an apple at cha.’”
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In Middletown, Shaffer’s Barbecue is the continuation of a family legacy of BBQ connoisseurs and entrepreneurs. Now in its third generation of excellent smoked meats, Shaffer’s has a permanent restaurant. In 2016 a 1956 gas station got a makeover to become that permanent home. Driving past you’ll quickly see the big smokers beneath the awning, sheltered as you would be if you were pumping gas.
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Fuel-Fuel and Food Fuel
Don’t overlook the value of hidden gems in plain sight. Those are among our faves, actually! Some great places to eat are located inside or right beside working gas stations.
Inside an operational Citgo in Winchester is Greenwood Grocery & Deli. Their griddle stays hot preparing breakfast and lunch each day, and they also offer catering. It’s a local favorite and an affordable one, too.
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More barbecue, coming right up! Jordan Springs Market BBQ & Catering is a “traditional country store / gas station,” which means you can do all of your filling in one spot. Oh, and the pitmaster is a woman. “Please don’t ask us again ‘where’s the dude that smokes the meat?’” Girl power!
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Overnight Fuel
The 1920s were a hopping year for cool stations, it appears, and the 1920s Sunoco station near Old Town Winchester is one of the cooler takes we’ve seen. It’s not quickly recognizable as an old filling station aside from the service bay doors, but there is a nod to its past with a vibrant blue and yellow Sunoco gas pump out front. Simply called “Downtown Renovated 1920’s Gas Station,” the property is a one bed, one bath AirBnB rental, and the bay doors are functional to allow the outside in.
For more great stops along the Winchester Service Station Grub Trail (and a handy map!) check out VisitWinchesterVA.com.
Header image by Robert Harris Photography. Copyright 2017. Winchester Frederick County CVB.