Hutch Post, in partnership with Steve Harmon and the Conard-Harmon Collection, is proud to present Throwback Thursday. Enjoy a weekly release from Steve Harmon as he presents the "Hutch - Then & Now Collection."
STEVE HARMON
Hutch Post Contributor
Today's "Throwback Thursday Collection" takes us to the northwest corner of East 17th and North Plum.
In the mid-1970s, Floyd Dick and Robert Owens formed the Patlyn Oil Co. and started acquiring gas stations.
In 1978, they purchased the old Herman Oil Co. gas station at 434 E. 17th.
In 1984, Robert Owens solely owned the company and had bigger ideas. The first photo shows the Robert Owens Gas Station in 1987 right before demolition.
Owens idea was to get into the convenience store/gas station/car wash business. The second photo shows his "full stop" dream under construction.
Owens then leased the completed property to the Wen's One convenience store group, owned by the Wenger Oil Co. out of Newton. The third photo shows the property during the Wen's One occupation.
In 1998, Owens converted the lease over to the T & E Oil Co., owned by the Shorty Brown Family. They converted the property into the "Pantry Plus" convenience store moniker. The fourth photo shows the property then, under that name.
In 2003, the Pantry Plus group sold out to the Kwik Shop group, who just happened to own a facility just diagonal in the intersection. That's when the 434 E. 17th property was rebranded to the Kwik Shop. The fifth photo shows the property today, still the Kwik Shop, with the property still owned by the Patricia and Carl Owen Trust of Oklahoma City.
To purchase a photo print, contact: [email protected].
Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:
Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum