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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, Speaking on business.
Do any of you remember when we could pull into a gas station, (we called them "service stations") and have an attendant fill our tanks, check our oil, and wash our windshield? At one time, there was no such thing as self-service at a "service station."
Well, those days are not completely gone. Recently, I was working in St. George and looked out the window of my hotel and saw a sign I had never noticed before. It said "Fabulous Freddy."
I was curious and drove in. It looked like a rather typical combination gas station, car wash and convenience store, but that allusion was quickly dispelled. An attractive, young person greeted me, commenced to fill my car after assuring me that this service was still at the "serve yourself" price.
I was intrigued by this welcome development so I walked in and introduced myself to the manager. Craig Molloy told me the station/car wash opened in early January of this year. There are two Fabulous Freddy's in Las Vegas and two more on the drawing board.
When Craig told me the owner was Fred Smith, formerly of Salt Lake City, I was delighted because I was a good friend of his father, Dee Smith and of his mother Ida. Of course, these are the Smith's of the Smith Food and Drug Center fame. I knew Fred had been in the automobile retail business in California, but wasn't aware of this new venture in the car wash, convenience store and gas station business.
Freddy’s C-store is not typical. I looked and saw a beautiful, spacious interior with granite counter tops, marble tile floors and everything was very well stocked and maintained.
There was a sign that proclaimed, "Best Wash in Town - without a doubt," so I tried it. It was indeed very good. There are 30 employees at Fabulous Freddy's and all were bright, upbeat and gracious.
The entire concept is really very good. But the thing I enjoyed the most was having that old-time full-service back at the gas pump. I forgot how much I had enjoyed it.
This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank. I'm speaking on Business.
