Car lovers converged on the new Marathon service station at Pinellas Plaza on Saturday.
Villager John Clark, owner of the new Clark’s Pump-N-Shop on County Road 466A, was all smiles and handshakes as Villagers came out to greet him on the opening of the station.
Several Villages car clubs showed up in force, with vintage cars parked at the station and neighboring areas.
“There’s just something about Americans’ love of cars,” said Alan Stone of the Antique Automobile Club of The Villages.
He had his 1953 Desoto on display, complete with Howdy Doody behind the wheel.
For Luke Miorelli of M.E. Construction Inc., it was a first-time
project in The Villages, building the new service station.
“Everybody from Sumter County and Wildwood made this easy,” Miorelli said.
The West Melbourne builder was at the grand opening celebration.
Clark, of Ashland, Kentucky, has opened 53 service stations around the country. He hinted that he may be opening more in the vicinity of The Villages.
Don and Dorothy Kibler of the Village of Buttonwood brought their golf cart to the station to fill it up. They let their dog Dallas tag along.
“It’s great to have a place down here to gas up your golf cart,” she said. “We’ve been waiting a long time.”
