The Defunct Gas Stations of West (West, Texas)

Focusing on the north side of West Oak Street and I-35 (or rather, Exit 353), the first "numbered exit" on the Numbered Exits blog is merely coincidental and focuses on some of the defunct gas stations of West, Texas. The northwest corner of the intersection is our main focus. Currently (as of July 2024) this features a Starbucks and McDonald's, both sharing the address of 22119 N. Interstate 35. The McDonald's opened September 2021 and in March 2022, the Starbucks opened right next to it. Prior to this, there were two gas stations that got wrecked in the expansion of I-35. The first was Texaco / CEFCO (22185 N IH 35), a part of a bigger complex that included a large auto center and even incorporating a much older gas station into the property.

Additionally, an Exxon existed closer to West Oak Road. This was Gerik's Exxon at 22087 N IH-35, though it upgraded its canopy before its demise.

700 West Oaks Street at the northeast side still resembles a former 7-Eleven when it opened back in 1977. The Waco-area stores were sold to Circle K in 1988. Sometime around 1999 (it seems it was still Circle K in the late 1990s) was sold to Skinny's and by 2007 had been operating as a Skinny's/Fina for a number of years. It shut down in the early 2010s after I-35 ate the gas canopy area (and roadside sign), so it never became Alon (and if it did, it was extremely brief). It was abandoned in 2013 and became JoAnn's Bridal in 2014, though it relocated within a decade.

There's obviously the south side of West Oak Street that I did not cover, but that's a future update...or just check out the whole page where this post was derived and expanded from.

The photos here were generously provided by McLennan Central Appraisal District.