United Oil president eyes unique, unconventional store designs

Convenience Store News: Ron Appel, president of United Oil, could be called a dreamer. He is constantly imagining an array of highly creative and individually unique store designs, and working through city ordinances and obtaining permits to put in place.

One store's façade in central Los Angeles features a "faux freeway ramp" that semi-circles over the top of the store and then goes down into its car wash. The floor is made of resin and stainless steel is used throughout the building. Also, cracked-design glass is featured in the windows, a canopy juts out from the building, and "there's an elaborate arch design like in Barcelona," according to Appel.

"This one cost us $6.5 million to build," he said, quoting just the property and store construction. "We had problems with the City Council. It ended up taking five years to complete, but it was worth it. It was recently written up in Los Angeles magazine as one of the top coolest things to do in the city."

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