Columbus #8 - Columbus, GA

 

Columbus #8

Sing Food Store

1400 Double Churches Road

Columbus, GA 31904

Built in 1979, Columbus #8 was constructed right on the heels of Columbus #7 yet has a few subtle differences, most notable is the wooden canopy; it is possibly the only station remaining with an original cypress pump canopy that is fully in-tact.  This model of station was designed to feature the wood as a warm, artistic touch in contrast to the traditional steel of the time.  What is even more surprising is that the canopy was expanded twice to accommodate four more pumps which used wood to match the existing structure.  The first expansion happened sometime between 1993 and 1999 after Summit bought the station.  The second expansion happened between 2008 and 2009 to bring the canopy to its present size.  During this time, the wood was painted white so the full effect doesn't remain but it is nice to see this adaptive reuse, even though the canopy leaks between the 2008 addition and the original roof-line.

Circa 1979 Sing wooden pump canopy - still in use in 2021 at Columbus #8
The original configuration ended before pump 5 and only been two columns wide, not three.

 While the canopy at Columbus #8 now houses six multi-grade pumps that can accommodate a total of twelve cars, it was originally built to house six single-grade pumps with the ability to park four cars.  Three pumps would have been centered between each set of columns, directly under the center of the pitched roof.  A similar configuration is seen in the picture of Columbus #7, just with a different canopy style.  The divide between the original canopy and the addition can be seen in the photo below just above and to the right of pump 8.  The peak of the original canopy can be seen above pump 2 where a beam is running.

The "front" of Columbus #8 featuring the gasoline payment window and a door flanking either side.
The original canopy, centered with the station, can also be seen with the addition on the left.

This Sing Store also retains most of the awning structure that dates back to the late '70s.  The top piece of the façade was removed and the pitch of the roof was lowered a bit to allow the "Summit" banner to have a consistent height across the edifice.  The interior of the store has been reconfigured to expand the checkout counter and block the door in the picture above.  The gasoline payment window is still in place and just has a piece of metal blocking the transaction port on the bottom of the pane of glass (behind the black Dodge Dart). 

One final remaining piece of this station's Sing days are the parking lot vacuum lights.  These were often located in the crux of the intersection for corner stations since that real estate couldn't be used for much else.  I'm not sure if the vacuum unit is original but the lights have retained their original fixtures over the last 40 years.  Furthermore, the right light post has retained the Amoco "air Help yourself" sign.  Also of note is how the gas and diesel price per gallon are the same.

Sing vacuum and air station at Columbus #8 with original light fixtures.

Some History

According to Muscogee county property records, R. L. Singletary (Dick) and Thomas E. Perry (Tom) signed a twenty-year lease on December 21, 1978 for this property as Sing Distributing, Inc.  The station would have been constructed shortly after that and probably opened in 1979.  The lease was transferred to Robin Enterprises, Inc. on June 27, 1990 as a consolidation measure in preparation for the Amoco-Sing merger.  Robin Enterprises, named for Tom Perry's wife, was one of Sing's holding companies and Tom was the primary stockholder.  Unfortunately, the Sing brand would not survive until the expiration of the lease which was transferred to McDonald Oil Company (Money Back / Summit) on June 23, 1993 - just as Amoco did with many other Sing stores. This was eight days after Columbus #7 was sold to Spectrum Stores, Inc. so Amoco wanted a timely exit from this market.  Interestingly, the lease transfer included a first right of refusal for the new lessee that states the "Assignor . . . shall be entitled to a Right of First Refusal to lease the Premises from Assignee should Assignee or Assignee's heirs, executors, grantees, successors and assigns, desire to assign their interest in the Lease at any time during the lifetime of William J. Clinton, President of the United States of America, or within twenty-one (21) years after the death of Mr. Clinton."  I'm not sure how legal timelines are usually structured but I find it interesting to base it on something as arbitrary as a president's lifetime.  With that verbiage, the time frame is a minimum of 49 years and will likely be longer (Bill Clinton is still doing fine as far as I know). 

Interior Pictures

The interior of this store was . . . boring.  I'm certain the drink coolers, flooring, and ceiling tiles were original but no noticeable traces of Sing or Amoco remain.  I do wonder if the open-faced cooler was original.  In the 1960s, Sing would offer fresh produce and groceries in coolers like this but this model looks too new.  I'm also not sure if this store ever had a Deli - that might have been reserved for Sing's larger format stores in the mid-to-late '80s.  While I don't know this store's original layout, I think it was very similar to what is seen today except for the cashier's counter. 

 

This looks like any other slightly run-down convenience store. Complete with 'gambling' machines in front of the window.  The coolers and tile are almost certainly original to the Sing days.

Again, pretty boring (minus the bug light on the milk crate). The storage room is in the middle of shot.
I do wonder what is in the chest freezer though . . .

These cabinets scream '80s convenience store. The Gulfport Sing Store had red laminate counters but beige cabinets.  These look worn out regardless.
Also, what is with the black faux-marble adhesive sheets?

Google Street Views

Google Street View - December 2012

Columbus #8 as a BP station - View from Whitesville Road.

Google Street View - July 2019

Columbus #8 as a Shell station - View from Double Churches Road

Aerial Views

Historic Aerials  - 1968

Future site of Columbus #8 Sing store.

Historic Aerials  - 1981

Newly built Columbus #8 store on corner of Whitesville & Double Churches Road.

Google Earth - February 1993

Columbus #8 just before the lease was turned over to McDonald Oil on 6/23/1993.

Google Earth  - July 2007

Columbus #8 after first canopy extension and just before second canopy addition in 2008.

Google Earth - November 2020

Columbus #8 with both canopy additions in its current configuration.

Additional Resources: 

Historic Aerials

Google Earth Pro

Google Maps

Parcel ID: 191 024 020A

Muscogee County Property Records

Lease takeover by McDonald Oil

Rockbridge - Pine Lake, GA

 

Rockbridge

Sing Food Store

4513 Rockbridge Road Southwest

Stone Mountain, GA 30083

The Rockbridge Road station was one of Sing Oil Company's early forays into the Atlanta convenience store market.  Built around 1970, this store was most likely the third location in the Metro market, following Smyrna (1967) and Eastland Road (1969).  This station was my last discovery of the Amoco merger acquisitions because there is a station a block away that mimics a late-'70s square location that looked like the "low hanging fruit."  It wasn't until I stumbled across some environmental records listing the official address that I discovered my initial location was inaccurate.  Soon after, I realized I had a historical picture of this location in my collection and all of the details matched precisely.  I also found that Trikum and Rockbridge had a Carlson Cleaners in an adjacent storefront from the Amoco-Sing merger documents which also reinforces the location of the picture I found.

The first newspaper mention I found of this store was in a 1971 edition of The Atlanta Constitution.  That classified ad refers to this station as the "Pinelake" location which makes sense because it is located adjacent to the city limits of DeKalb County's smallest municipality.  

The Dekalb County property records mention the first sale on this property as January 1, 1977, which could have been a right-of-way sale or an inter-company transfer; however, neither a grantor nor a grantee are listed for this date.  The records do show Sing Oil Company as the grantor for a Quit Claim deed to Dekalb County on September 12, 1990 which would have been a right-of-way grant.  Details on this transaction are likely in the Amoco-Sing merger documents due to its close proximity to the closing date.  Eventually, Amoco sold this station for $225,000 to an independent operator on April 17, 1995. 

The Modern Convenience Store

The Rockbridge Texaco Food Mart, from Allgood Road - 2017

(Photo from Dekalb County Property Tax Records)

 

Currently, the station operates as a Texaco and looks like it has gone through few modifications since its Amoco days.  The dry cleaners moved out and a braid salon now occupies the adjacent storefront.  This station retains the original columns in front of the store and the diagonal wood paneling Sing added to the bottom windows in the 1980s.  The original pump canopy looks like it was demolished in the 1990s to make way for a new combination gas pump setup.

The Rockbridge Texaco Food Mart and adjacent storefront, from Rockbridge Road - 2017

(Photo from Dekalb County Property Tax Records)

 

Google Street Views

Google Street View  - December 2007

View of Texaco convenience store from Rockbridge Road.

Google Street View  - March 2021

View of Texaco convenience store from Rockbridge Road.

Aerial Views

Historic Aerials  - 1968

Future site of Rockbridge Road Sing store.

Historic Aerials  - 1972

Newly constructed Rockbridge Road Sing store.

Google Earth - January 1993

Rockbridge Road Amoco Food Shop.

Google Earth  - November 2019

Rockbridge Road Texaco Food Mart.

Additional Resources: 

Historic Aerials

Google Earth Pro

Google Maps

Parcel ID: 18 041 04 003

Dekalb County Property Records

Green Company DB

Perry #1 - Perry, GA

Perry #1

Sing Food Store | Deli

1203 Main Street

Perry, GA 31069

Deli Added: June, 1986

Revisited: November 24, 2021 | Original Publication: June 23, 2021

Perry #1 was built in 1970 and has a unique history to its layout.  While most convenience stores built during the early 1970s would have the pump island located directly in front of the convenience store, Perry #1 has the island in front of the adjacent retail parcel that was leased to several merchants through its life.  When asked about the reasoning for this, Dick Singletary stated that the plat of land was located adjacent to Perry First Baptist Church, and local Blue Laws would not allow alcohol sales within a certain radius of a church, school, etc.  Therefore, the gas pumps were situated in the center of the lot to allow easy access for cars while the convenience store was built on the Eastern edge of the lot to allow beer sales.  To this day, the original pump canopy stands with the same configuration as it had in 1970 which is very rare to see.  Most stations had their canopies reconfigured in the early 1990s with the onset of multi-grade gas pumps (MPDs) and higher fuel demand.

Construction and Opening: 1969 - 1970

The Houston Home Journal - June 26, 1969
Announcement for the construction of a small shopping center including the Perry Sing Store

According to The Houston Home Journal, Richard L. (Dick) Singletary purchased the property for Sing Oil Company in mid-1969 and construction began in December of that year.  In addition to the convenience store and gas station, an Eagle Discount Store was built on the site. Construction was estimated to last four months on the property.

The Houston Home Journal - December 18, 1969
Construction commences on the Perry Sing station and Eagle Discount store.

Both stores would open by July, 1970 and Perry #1 would be one of Sing's first 10 convenience stores. At that time, the industry was rapidly evolving, and Sing was one of the first companies to utilize the convenience store/gas station model that is ubiquitous today.  According to the National Association of Convenience Stores, there were 6,893 member stores nationwide and a very small portion of those sold gasoline.  Many companies, such as 7-Eleven began offering self-service gas in the 1970s and only 2,500 stores had self-service pumps by 1969. 

The Houston Home Journal - July 16, 1970
A feature titled "Perry in Progress" shows the grand opening of the Sing station and Eagle Store

Early Days: The 1970's

During its inaugural year, the Sing Food store was open from 7 AM to 11 PM, 7 days a week.  Contrary to today, it was very rare to see convenience stores that were open 24/7 but the 7-Eleven model was fairly standard.  It is also interesting to see how Sing Stores competed more directly with a grocery store than convenience stores do today. By advertising sale prices in the paper and carrying items like hot-dogs and lettuce they provided a greater selection of staple foods rather than exclusively selling snacks and soft drinks.

The Houston Home Journal - December 3, 1970
Sing Food Store Ad highlighting the sales for the week

Pushing the limits further, the Sing Food Store made history in Perry as the first food store to be given a beer license.  Granted in August, 1971, the Perry City Council allowed the store to sell packaged beer to-go in a 4-2 decision.  The dissenting votes mentioned past city policy that prohibited food stores from selling beer and one said he would not vote for "any such licenses for beer in food stores in the future.  Councilman Dan Britton, who made the motion in favor of the license, . . . said that a food store, under law, had just as much right to get a beer license as any other store."  

The Houston Home Journal - August 5, 1971
The Perry Sing Store makes history as the first food store in the city to legally sell beer

Unfortunately, for the Eagle Discount Store, business in Perry must not have been as prosperous as the owner hoped.  In the classifieds of the March 20, 1975 edition of the Houston Home Journal, an ad was purchased to advertise "The Former Top Dollar Store, Next to Sing Food Store, 4500 Square Feet" was for lease.  I'm not sure if Eagle was purchased by Top Dollar, if the name changed, or if they were the second tenant but 1975 would be the last time a dollar store was located in this parcel.  A True Value hardware store would open in the shop on November 1 of that year and was managed by Alvin Dickerson.

Perry #1 - 1974-ish - View from Main Street

Notice the aged wood on the awning compared to the earlier photo and the Top Dollar Store where the Eagle Family Discount Store used to be.

We get another view of the food store from a 1973 newspaper ad. At the time, Alex Herrera was the manager and John Peavy was the gasoline dealer. I find it interesting how several of these early food stores mention separate store managers and gasoline dealers which reflects the primitive dynamic between convenience stores and gasoline service stations.  During the late-'60s and early-'70s it was very novel for a convenience store to sell gas; therefore, they were often run like separate businesses. Eventually, Sing station managers would also be in charge of the gasoline operations.

The Houston Home Journal - March 15, 1973
Newspaper ad for the Perry Sing Store

Deli Addition: The 1980's

In coordination with Sing's delicatessen roll out of the mid-'80s, the Perry store was remodeled beginning in March of 1986.  The Deli officially opened in June of that year and featured a full article on the front of the Houston Home Journal business section.  I was ecstatic when I found this article because it provides the only picture I have of a '70s store that was retrofitted with the new circa 1986 logo.  The store also received a new façade over the awning to allow for the new style of sign and the fluorescent lighting.  The photo below shows some of the Sing employees that worked at this store. 

The Houston Home Journal - May 30, 1987
"Deli helps boost business at Sing convenience store" 
From left to right: Dorothy Hathcock, Kathy Haslem, store manager Tommy Willard, gas manager John Peavy, Michelle Robinson and Bobbie O’Brien.

In the photo above, gas manager John Peavy was wearing one of the '80s Sing blue trucker hats.  These hats featured the yellow and blue Sing logo in needlepoint on the front, a flat bill, and mesh back.  An example can be seen in the picture below.  Also, to note, Mr. Peavy worked at this station for at least 14 years but probably closer to 17.  During my preliminary research for this station, I found an obituary for John in the May 23, 1999 edition of The Macon Telegraph. This stated he also had managed a Sing Station in Cordele and worked for Sing for a total of 34 years. He was a Korean War veteran, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.  He died at the age of 68 and is buried in Pinehurst, GA.  Without dedicated employees like John Peavy, Sr., Sing Oil Company would not have been the reputable company it had grown in to.

A 1980's Sing Trucker Hat featuring the ca. 1986 logo

Due to its relevance to the station, here is a copy of that May 30, 1987 article from The Houston Home Journal: