St. Albert resident Ken Moore and his son, Dale Moore, are upset about the loss of the only drive-up-and-get-full-service gas station in St. Albert.
“My dad’s 85 years old. He has his driver's licence, but he walks with a walker, so it’s extremely inconvenient (for him) to get out (of his car),” said Dale.
The St. Albert Domo shut down on April 30, leaving few options for those who have disabilities or for those who find it difficult to get out of their cars. There are no other gas stations in the city that allow drivers to simply drive up and get full service.
Shell does offer full service at specific locations (you can check which locations on their website), but it requires either a call ahead to make sure someone is available to help, or it requires a person to download an app. Only one location in the city confirmed over the phone they were able to do full-service – 4 Versailles Ave., which is a call-ahead location.
In an emailed response, Arvin Minocha, district manager for Shell Canada Retail, said they recognize the importance of accessibility and mobility.
“Our customers with mobility concerns can now fuel up their vehicles with greater ease and with the confidence that someone will be there to assist them at selected retail sites,” said Minocha.
This isn't a perfect solution for the Moores.
“Now you've got to grab your phone, you've got to have it preprogrammed into your phone to phone them, and ask them to pump your gas. That’s a little inconvenient, right?” said Dale, and that’s only if someone is available to help.
If no one is available, his dad will have to get out of his car, grab his walker from his trunk, make sure his walker fits between the car and the pump, pump the gas, and then put everything back again. Dale is concerned about what this could mean for his father in the winter.
“I know for people that are disabled ... Anybody that we've talked to – we live in a seniors' complex – there isn't anybody here that wouldn't pay an extra two or three cents a litre to have somebody come pump the gas for them,” said Dale.
Neighbour Heather Jones is also upset the Domo has closed. She has a bad back and she has never pumped her own gas.
“Ever since I've lived here, and that's over 45 years, I've relied on Domo … my back kills me. I can't get up to fill my own gas and especially in the winter. I mean, it's going to be ridiculous,” she said.
Jones said she isn’t sure what she is going to do, but said she is probably going to have to learn to put gas in her car despite her back, as driving to Edmonton is not something she wants to do.
“I don't know where I'm going to go. I have no idea. All I know is I haven't put gas in my car since I’ve had it. So, I'm going have to learn how, but even so, my back kills me when I have to bend or anything,” she said.
Douglas Everett, Domo chairman, said they tried to renew their lease with the landlord at the former St. Albert location at 1 Gervais Rd., but were unable to work something out.
“It was a nice store. It's unfortunate to see it close. (We) are sort of not pleased to see a close, but it was a matter of just not being able to renew with the landlord,” he said.
Everett said there is a possibility they could build another Domo in St. Albert, and he is hoping they can return to the community, but there is a lot that goes into building their stores.
“I mean, there is a possibility we may build a new store, but new stores these days are pretty expensive, if you put in new equipment and all the environmental stuff and all the stuff you have to do. It's very difficult, but it's not out of the question.”
