Gateway 66

This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.

Sheri and Blair Madsen have to be just about the best corporate citizens in Duchesne. Everyone I talked to told me that their business, Gateway 66, supports nearly every community activity.

Gateway 66 is a large gasoline, diesel and convenience store on the west entrance to the city. It houses a Subway sandwich outlet, a Hot Stuff Pizza franchise and a new car wash. When an event takes place in the community, Sheri and Blair don't just offer a sponsorship through the gas outlet, they also pledge support through Subway and Hot Stuff.

Gateway 66 gets a great deal of traffic. Much of it is because of the area's booming oil and gas industry. I asked Sheri what the high gas prices have done to her bottom line. She explained that people are incorrect in assuming that the stations are making huge profits. On the contrary, gasoline sales contribute a very small profit margin. It is the in-store sales that make the difference between profit and loss, success and failure. That is why the sandwich, pizza and car wash segments are so vital to the business.

Both locals and station customers enjoy Hot Stuff Pizza in particular. Sheri tells me that the pizzas are made with 100 percent cheese and 100 percent sausage.

Managing Gateway 66 necessitates hard work and long hours. The facility is open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. This truly is a family business and the Madsen children are all very helpful. Heather, Courtney, Jessica and even 12-year-old Bryan all work at Gateway 66.

Sheri and Blair Madsen started their business 10 years ago. They are proud of their 37 employees and they enjoy being a part of the wonderful community of Duchesne. It appears that the citizens feel the same way about the Madsens and Gateway 66.

For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.