By Frank Sabatini Jr. | Reportero SDUN
The new Shell gas station and car wash that reopened earlier this month at 330 Washington St. in Hillcrest is anything but typical. Fronted by standard gas pumps is a rebuilt, three-aisle mini mart strewn with unexpected gourmet foods. A drive-through car wash in the back appears like a funhouse, given its colorful micro-fiber brushes and spacey ceiling dryers.
The station brings in daily deliveries of rolls from Sushi Hut and gourmet cookies from The Cravory, which you’d find mostly at farmers markets.
Even the sandwiches exceed in quality the typical ham and American cheese seen at other gasoline marts. Here, they’re made with fresher, leaner meats by DaVinci Fine Foods in the form of wraps and submarines. A couple shelves above lay an assortment of hummus by Evolution; spicy walnut, pine nuts with garlic and other flavors more common to Trader Joe’s than a fueling station.
“We wanted to make this unique and for the community,” says Nancy Bell-Younan, who co-owns the business with her husband and brother-in-law. Since demolishing the original structure six months ago, they’ve invested nearly $2 million into the rebuild. The store’s interior shows off ceramic tile flooring, stone composite counters and an eye-catching photographic collage of an old gas station incorporating the Hillcrest sign and San Diego skyline. The piece was created locally by 858 Graphics.
“A lot of customers have been surprised that we have so many great things to offer them,” Bell-Younan said, referring also to the fresh parfaits and pastries delivered every morning by Bread & Cie. In addition, the front racks flaunt chocolates from Lindt, Ritter Sport and Godiva as well as imported licorice and candies. Next year, the candies you get for Valentine’s Day may actually come from a gas station, and so might the greeting card, as the store sells a line of them from Papyrus.
The car wash, she adds, has been in sudsy motion since it opened, with about 65 vehicles passing through each day. For the next few months, customers can opt for an “express wash” priced at $5. The more deluxe treatments cost $8, $9 and $10.
Outside of the station, Bell-Younan serves on a couple of committees for the Hillcrest Business Association,
of which her husband Dalour is a board member. Together the couple have volunteered for various neighborhood events, including the annual CityFest Street Fair.
