As I increasingly phase my car out (vis-à-vis trains, buses, walking, and bicycling), I try to be careful about where I buy my gas. The Venezuela-owned Citgo stations have been my preference. (This story explains why:
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/17823/index.php)
On Sunday, October 22, I was traveling through Glendale/Burbank, an area that is mentioned on Citgo’s store locator site (see:
http://www.citgo.com/CITGOLocator/StoreLocator.jsp). I was cautious because I knew that Citgo stations in Southern California are often affiliated with 7-11, which recently terminated the affiliation due to Hugo Chavez’s “controversial” remarks about George Bush, Jr. at the UN (see:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060928/7_eleven_citgo.html?.v=2).
Thus, I talked to the person in the 7-11 store before I started filling my gas. This employee knew of the contract termination but believed Citgo still operated this particular station. And the Citgo logo still covered the gas pumps. So I filled my tank for the first time in at least four weeks.
I was somewhat concerned, though, because my receipt made no mention of Citgo. It thanked me for choosing 7-11.
The station I went to is at 2055 W. Glenoaks at Alameda and is a few miles north of the 5 Freeway (Alameda off-ramp).
Although Citgos are inevitably going to disappear from 7-11s fairly soon, I'm told there are many Citgos that aren't connected to 7-11s, including ones in Las Vegas.
Also, Citgo sells motor oil in competition with brands like Pennzoil. I’ve purchased a few quarts at a Rite Aid in Pasadena.