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Family-run Tobie’s Station is a “must-stop” between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Duluth, Minnesota. BY SARAH HAMAKER Hickle’s grandfather was the original owner of the restaurant and convenience store, which Hickle and Zabrok purchased from their parents. “I’ve worked here my whole life,” Hickle said. “And I am thrilled to be the third generation to run this family-owned business.”
Name of company Tobie’s Station Date founded 1978 # of stores 1 Website www.tobies.com
Tobie’s Station is a halfway stop between the Twin Cities and Duluth, a place where travelers can stock up on refreshments and baked goods, fill up their tank with E85 flex fuel or E15, or recharge their Tesla.
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ince 1948, Tobie’s Restaurant in Hinckley, Minnesota, has welcomed travelers on their journey between Duluth and Minneapolis/St. Paul. In the late 1970s, Tobie’s acquired the adjacent gas station, rebranding it as Tobie’s Station. “The gas station and small convenience store is very complementary to our restaurant business,” said Chris Hickle, who owns the business along with his younger sister, Pam Zabrok.
SEE MORE! Ideas 2 Go showcases how retailers today are operating the convenience store of tomorrow. To see videos of the c-stores we profiled in 2019 and earlier, go to www.convenience.org/Ideas2Go.
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| NOVEMBER 2020
ON THE ROAD Being a traveler’s traditional stopping point isn’t something Tobie’s Station takes for granted. “We’re a famous halfway stop between the Twin Cities and Duluth, and have marketed ourselves as such for as long as we’ve been in business,” Hickle said. Tobie’s Station advertises its presence on a freeway billboard and on social media. “People have known about us for years, and we’ve built our reputation on being the place to stop when traveling between these two cities,” he said. Today, the station boasts a dozen fueling pumps through the Minnoco brand, offering E85 and E15. In addition, there are eight Tesla Supercharger points. “We’ve had those electric chargers for nearly five years and see them being used more and more every year,” he said. After purchasing the gas station next door to his restaurant, Hickle’s grandfather put in a convenience store. “It was really an early rendition of the modern convenience store, with groceries and convenience items inside and gas pumps outside,” Hickle said. Hickle keeps the grocery section well stocked, which helped during the pandemic. In addition to necessities, Tobie’s Station offers grab-and-go food, drinks, CONVENIENCE.ORG