When I was scouting the city last year looking for buildings to include in my exhibition on modern architecture, I came across this tire shop on the corner of Howard and Hanna.
Originally built as a Beaver Oil Gas Station in 1967, it was designed by the local firm of Johnson – McWhinnie. They also designed four other Beaver Oil Stations in Windsor around the same time.
It’s got some very interesting use of concrete, as that was one of the materials that Johnson – McWhinnie were very innovative in using. I like the 5 “Y” shaped trusses that support the concrete roof.
As time progresses, many of these buildings that came out of the 50’s and 60’s will continue to rise in appreciation, as people continue to discover the innovative use of building materials used in different and unique ways.
When was the last time you saw a gas station built that had any architectural thought put into it at all?
Maybe when our kids are grown up, they can tell their kids about how we used to have to put something called gas into cars to make them work 🙂
Great find. Indeed, the notion of a gasoline retailer using a highly-regarded local architectural firm to design service stations is–well…beyond belief in these days of pre-fabricated c-stores and look-alike canopies.
Are these guys a local company? I just happen to be considering buying some snow tires for a rallycross event in a couple weeks. While I may have a CT 400m down the street from me I’m not that fond of their service to warrant buying from them unless I have to. Any info as to how reasonable they are? I see they sell Toyo’s which come summer time when I Autocross I might be able to order some nice performance tires for the pavement.
Dave – they are a local company with 3 locations. I wish I could support this local business but their prices are way too high, and buying from a “discount” tire chain in Detroit is so much cheaper. My suggestion is to get some quotes from a few different places and make your own decision.
Well, I just got s set of tires from their East side location today for my Mustang and they had the best price by far, including Costco. In fact, I have purchased tired from them several times and have had 100% satisfaction with the service and price.
This was built to replace a very small Beaver gas station that was on the site. The station it replaced was no more than 10′ X10′. They also tore down an old house next to the train tracks that as kids we thought was haunted.But then again we also thought the Maple Leaf Hotel on the next block going towards Tecumseh Rd was haunted.
It turned out to be inhabited by homeless people living in both. The Maple Leaf Hotel had a parking lot that was across the street from our house on 1615 Highland. I am not sure when it closed or what it was before it was a hotel. I don’t think it was originally built as a bar and boarding house.
This was built to replace a very small Beaver gas station that was on the site. The station it replaced was no more than 10′ X10′. They also tore down an old house next to the train tracks that as kids we thought was haunted.But then again we also thought the Maple Leaf Hotel on the next block going towards Tecumseh Rd was haunted.
It turned out to be inhabited by homeless people living in both. The Maple Leaf Hotel had a parking lot that was across the street from our house on 1615 Highland. I am not sure when it closed or what it was before it was a hotel. I don’t think it was originally built as a bar and boarding house.
If you purchased $5.00 worth of gas in the sixties Beaver gave you a hocky stick for 50 cents. They would sell hocky sticks to kids for 50 cents anyway. In those days retail stores were not open on Sundays. If you broke your hockey stick on a Sunday Beaver Gas was the place to go.
M.O.M.
They would also give away Beaver stamps. Just like the S&M stamps that you could redeem for gas.
Scooter is yet another reason as to why we are in teh shape we are. “Where is the cheapest, where is the cheapest”. That, my friends is one of the reasons we find ourselves as a city, a region and culture in the position we are in. Cheap isn’t all this it is cracked up to be.
ME – In Scooters defence I am looking for some really cheap tires. But by shopping locally I do keep the economy in this area moving some no matter how much I spend this case the more the better though so your view is true.
Considering the kind of tires I’d be looking for in the summer a well established relationship with a local business could pay off both ways but that would be a bit of a pipe dream (ie Sponsorship). As a tool maker I’m really starting to feel the crunch of the times. You know things arent good when that McDonald’s application you walk past when your ordering dinner (I work nights) looks mighty tempting.
Though using that thought I’m probably better off not using winter tires this winter or competing in any sportscar events for that matter. The fact I wanted them for a rallycross event was merely adding motivation to get them for this winter. For the record I use my daily driver at these kids of events so its not like I have extra toys that I can sell that some anti-unionists automatically assume all workers have but I diegress.
Scooter- Comparatively the “discount” chain in Detroit isnt much cheaper than the Big Box Store 400m down the road from me and might even be more expensive with the exchange rate and duties I most likely will be paying. In fact so far my research suggests that tires from a certin american website are the chepeast but shipping kills any savings plus the whole idea of using the credit card isnt such a hot idea for me.
To keep in the theme of this article (since I never commented on it before) I actually do like the way those trusses were put in over the windows. Reminds me of a bridge that fits in with the whole transportation theme that this business throughout its history always had. Gas station now tire store.