Though rare, pump jockeys trot to greet motorists

It's an amazing thing for oldsters to fathom: An entire generation of Americans has reached motoring adulthood without ever experiencing the perverse thrill of watching packs of service station attendants descend, like locusts in name tag-bedecked work shirts, upon their cars.

And it's why, to boomers and seniors, the introductory mantra offered by the staff at Fabulous Freddy's -- "Welcome to Fabulous Freddy's. Can I help you with your gas today?" -- is reassuringly nostalgic, even while it might as well be Esperanto to their youngers.

Forget gasoline for less than a buck a gallon. Now, in the midst of summer travel season, is as good a time as any to mourn the loss of the full-service gasoline station, which like dime stores and soda fountains -- and with the exception of such holdouts as Oregon and New Jersey -- disappeared from American culture when we weren't looking.

At 37, Fred Smith, owner of five full-service Fabulous Freddy's gasoline stations/carwashes in Las Vegas, is too young to remember anything but a mostly self-service world.

Growing up in Salt Lake City, he says, "hardly anyone" offered full-service gasoline service.

It wasn't until the '70s that the full-service gasoline station model began evolving, first, to offering a few self-service pumps to motorists who wished to save a few pennies per gallon, and, then, to the complete disappearance of full-service pumps.

Smith suspects part of the reason was economic. "I think a lot of (motorists) wanted to cut expenses and didn't want to pay for that extra service," he says.

Meanwhile, for station operators, having customers pump their own gasoline reduced labor costs.

But, since opening his first Fabulous Freddy's outlet more than 10 years ago, Smith's stores have been offering full-service as a default option. Full-service is available daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"Ten years ago, there may have been one or two other places in town that did it," Smith says, but "I don't even know if anybody does it now."

Smith acknowledges that hiring gasoline attendants is a cost. But, he notes, his stores have other revenue streams -- including carwashes, detailing services, minimarkets and oil change shops -- that help to cover the additional labor costs.

Besides, Smith says, "you don't worry about labor (costs) if you provide good customer service. If you have good service, then you're going to have repeat customers."

At the Fabulous Freddy's at 9611 Trailwood Drive, Daniel and Sara Kwiatkowski are two of the attendants who pump customers' gasoline. In addition, Daniel says, "we can also check their oil if they like, we can wash their window, and we can also go in and buy them something in the convenience store."

Anything, sister Sara adds, but alcohol and cigarettes.

For Daniel and Sara, working as -- to use the classic job title -- pump jockeys is hereditary. Sara notes that their grandfather used to own two Union 76 stations in town.

"They're long gone now," she says, but "he's so proud to hear his grandchildren are ... working at the gas station, pumping gas for people."

At Fabulous Freddy's, gasoline costs the same whether you pump it or attendants do it for you. (Last week, regular was $2.37 a gallon with a wash, and $2.57 a gallon without; buying a wash cuts the price by 20 cents per gallon.)

So why would anyone choose to pump their own? Some, Smith says, simply prefer to do it themselves.

For the rest, "it just depends on the store and a lot of it depends on the weather," he continues. "If it's really rainy or windy outside, our guys will be really busy. If it's hot ... our guys will be busy as well, because customers don't want to get out of their cars."

Smith also has noticed that mothers with kids in tow appreciate not having to leave their cars, as do businesspeople and drivers who are engrossed in cell phone conversations.

Daniel Kwiatkowski says people younger than 25 are most likely to pump their own gasoline, while customers 35 and older tend to take advantage of full service.

"It's mostly the older generation that likes to have their gas pumped," Sara agrees.

Maybe there's even a bit of nostalgia involved. Older drivers, Daniel says, "remember how it was in the '50s, where all the guys came over in suits and little hats and asked if you need gas. So they kind of feel they're back in that time a little bit."

Customer Jennifer Sanders says she'll always try to get a fill-up here, particularly "when it's hot."

Sanders was born and raised in Las Vegas, but spent a few years in Michigan during college. And, while living there, she says, laughing, "I was, 'Why don't they do it here?' "

The most important thing to know about full-service? "People should tip," Sanders answers.

Jessica Jones lives near the station and says she enjoys the convenience of full-service. While she doesn't refrain from pumping her own at other stations, she does add that "I wish they were all like this."

Michael Cortright is pumping his own gasoline today.

"I don't mind it, I guess, because I'm so used to it," he says. "If I had my way and my wife was getting gas, I'd like to have it done for her, too."

Cortright says that, if he's not getting a carwash, he'll probably search out less expensive gasoline. But, he adds, Freddy's "provides nice service beyond what a traditional station provides."

Then there's Joyce Stingley. "I come here only, because they will put the gas in for me," she says.

"I have arthritis. I walk with a cane, see?" explains Stingley, who lives in Sun City Summerlin. "So this is my gas station."

For those accustomed to self-service, being offered the option of full-service can even be a bit disconcerting.

When Martha and Robert Dalton pulled in, they were surprised to see Sara Kwiatkowski approach.

"Actually, we're from Louisiana, and we had no idea these places existed anymore," Martha says.

The Daltons were in town for a convention. Martha admits that, when Sara started running toward her car, "it was like, 'What is she doing?' "

The short answer: Keeping a bit of American motoring culture alive.

Customers "just really appreciate it," owner Smith says. "I don't ever see us not doing it."

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.