Full service station closes after two decades

By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

After 22 years of service, a Sinclair station in northwest Oklahoma City is shutting down its pumps.

The station is located near NW 50 and Portland, and has provided locals a reliable place to fill up.

"We'll either run out tonight or early tomorrow morning," owner Harley Hintergardt said.

Two decades ago, Hintergardt and his brother Hadley left their desk jobs for the service industry.

The brother duo did it all, from pumping gas, to checking and changing oil, and cleaning the windshield.

Besides filling up, the station has become a neighborhood hangout.

"I like the guys, all the guys that come around to gather," long-time customer George Todorovich said. "I'm a morning gatherer. I had my coffee and read the paper."

Long-time customers said they're sad to see their daily stop up for sale.

"I hate to see them leave," Mary Gorman said. "I've known the guys for so long."

The station is costing the owners too much to stay open.

"We couldn't afford to buy the next load of gas," Harley Hintergardt said.

Harley can't compete with the gas station down the street, who sold gas for less than what the Sinclair station can sell their supply for.

The Sinclair station also serviced the vehicles of several metro hospitals.

When the Hintergardt brothers opened their station, gas was only about 90 cents a gallon.