Gas Stations Then and Now – What Once Was at Georgia and Upshur St, NW

Photo via Shorpy

Dear PoPville,

I can’t tell you how many times I get gas in Maryland or Virginia, just to void the negative experience of getting gas near to my home. It’s amazing how long it’s been this way, especially at the corner of Georgia & Upshur, where the same dingy Shell Gas station has been dilapidated and broken for many years, It’s often embarrassingly unsafe that a large company would lower their expectations of service and presentation so far.

This gas station and many others around it suffer from a lack of cleanliness, dated/filthy service bays, broken gas/air pumps, environmental protection issues, abandoned cars, shoddy paving work, missing supplies like oil and windshield cleaning fluid, inconsistent pricing, and lackluster service and selection in terms of their convenience stores.

DCRA should hold these stations accountable for cleanliness and compliance. The quality is far away from the quality/convenience of suburban stores that charge less for gasoline. I have included a historical photo (above) of the gas station at Georgia & Upshur as well as one from now (below), that shows how this corner has fallen far from grace, even back when there were only dirt roads in the community.

Georgia, Kansas and Upshur St, NW