Twenty years ago, Lonnie McQuirter opened the doors of 36LYN Refuel Station, just south of downtown Minneapolis.
Built on the premise of providing a place to buy organic and locally sourced products at competitive prices, 36LYN at 3551 Lyndale Ave. S., has become a popular gathering spot for all. Along the way, McQuirter has weathered a host of local and national storms.
“Lonnie said he survived a national recession in 2008 and the civic unrest following the George Floyd tragedy (in 2020). He’s regarded as one of the first businesses to offer a living wage (years ago). He’s made his impact on this community in a big way and is very philanthropic, giving much to the arts and more,” explained store manager Josie Johnson, who has worked at the c-store since 2022.
Two decades later, Johnson said the headline underpinning 36LYN is this: “More of the same but only better. That validation from customers is that we are still doing things right,” said Johnson, a long-time customer before joining the five-person store team.
36LYN is celebrating its 20th anniversary June 9 with a “huge party on the parking drive with food trucks, a montage from customers detailing their fondest store memories,” said Johnson. “NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) reps will be on site since Lonnie is closely affiliated with them.” McQuirter is also closely aligned with the Minnesota Retailers Association.
No Quit in McQuirter
Over the years, McQuirter, who also owns an Airbnb and co-packing company, has made smart, tactical business decisions that have served 36LYN well. The most recent, said Johnson, is a foray into fresh and prepared foods. “We are moving slowly: it’s all in the planning stages, and to an extent hinges on if a nearby adjacent property becomes up for sale to allow Lonnie to acquire it and make the expansion,” Johnson said.
Another option is carving out space within existing store confines—investing in a commercial kitchen and hiring a sous chef. “Foodservice would put us on the map and add another layer of our advantage—make it more than a roller grill that has its limitations.”
In the meantime, the store is fluid in incorporating new packaged brands and seasonally hosting trendy local food trucks on its parking drive. One recent addition to the packaged frozen fare was Saturday Dumpling Co., offering hot Asian dumplings, scallion pancake burritos and more. “They are one of our local icons, offering a sit-down restaurant in Minneapolis but also packaged fare that we sell for $10.99 a bag,” Johnson said.
Food truck operations have been offered free space on the 36LYN lot for years—the latest being Bennie’s Bigfoot BBQ Food Truck, the owner a Michelin- decorated chef that offers international cuisine such as Mexicali Burgers, Fried Chicken Burritos, Cubanas with Fried Egg and more.
“It’s on-site Tuesday through Saturday seasonally,” said Johnson. “We don’t charge rent for food trucks to set up—and actually find that the trucks complement our inside business or fuel sales: they may come for a Nordic Dog or Pulled Pork Sundae (two food truck specialties) and then saunter inside our store to buy other items.”
With two decades in the books, 36LYN is seeking to further leverage its powerful local position as an ongoing platform to generate additional food and fuel business but to also galvanize the local community with its community advocate example.
It’s akin to other national independent c-store owners that have used their position as a megaphone to promote local goodwill, healthy eating and social justice.
One is Hank’s Mini Market, in south-central Los Angeles, where owner Kelli Jackson is leveraging genuine goodwill and social media to persuade local residents to establish eating lifestyles, emphasizing healthier options such as whole grain foods. Hank’s is also a welcome local gathering spot for south-central residents.
Meanwhile, McQuirter, Johnson and the lean-and-mean 36LYN team follow a simple but sometimes-elusive north star. “Be better than just a local gas station,” said Johnson.
36LYN Quick Facts
In the drink: The store churns out 1,000 package beverage sales a week. It’s a store where pets are free to mingle inside or outside the store with owners. “We get 20 to 30 dogs daily. It’s really like a village here, with people always looking out for one another,” said Johnson. 36LYN is known for its policy on offering free coffee refills.
The fuel: An unbranded marketer, the store is supplied by MINNOCO (Minnesota Independent Oil Co.), a brand developed for members of the Minnesota Service Station & Convenience Store Association by members of MSSA. “We participate in MINNOCO’s rewards program. Our gas is the lowest price for miles,” says Johnson. In May, unleaded gasoline prices at the store were less than $3 a gallon. From its Gilbarco MPD’s, 36LYN also offers alternative renewable fuels such as E85, E30, E15, 87, 89 and 91 octane fuels.
Wide-ranging supply chain: In addition to local vendor-partners, 36LYN partners with larger wholesale-distributors that include Core-Mark and Farner-Bocken Co., along with local or regional suppliers such as Co-op Partners, Capital Beverages and Lipari Foods.
Social media drives business: McQuirter perceived social media as an optimal way to get out in front of a story—plus to make people laugh, provide entertainment and alleviate some of the misery in the world.
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