People don’t need a reason to drive by, but they do need a reason to stop. And Tioga Gas Mart offers plenty of reasons. How many c-stores offer live music?
Located on Tioga Pass in Lee Vining, Calif., it’s on the route of tourists and backpackers on their way into or out of Yosemite National Park. Gassing up at one of Tioga’s eight Mobil-branded pumps is the most obvious reason to pull in, but the live music, gift shop, deli and pristine views don’t hurt.
This family-owned operation opened its doors for the first time 18 years ago and has done so seasonally ever since, from the first weekend of fishing season in April through the end of October. Dennis Donaille is the founder and owner, but his daughter, Denise, is now the store’s full-time manager.
“Dad’s still very involved,” Denise says. “He’s our resident handyman.”
The store offers candy, chips, soda and other traditional convenience items, along with a nice selection of beer, wine, camping and fishing equipment and souvenirs: T-shirts, Christmas ornaments, shot glasses, thimbles and the like.
But it’s Tioga’s in-store restaurant that usually gets the buzz.
Deli of Delights
For the first 17 years of business, Whoa Nellie Deli was run by the same chef, Matt Toomey. He recently moved on to start his own restaurant, but he left behind a unique menu, tailored to please. Denise and Dennis tout it as “the most unusual deli inside a gas station you will ever visit.”
“The quality of the food is really good,” Denise says. “We have buffalo meatloaf and pork tenderloin. People don’t expect to find gourmet food. They expect hot dogs on roller grills. They’re pleasantly surprised.”
Whoa Nellie serves a diverse offering at breakfast, lunch and dinner, but its most popular menu items are fish tacos, lobster taquitos and mango margaritas. It offers a soup of the day along with three daily specials, such as grilled swordfish sandwiches and shrimp linguini.
“Being at the gateway of Yosemite, we have people coming from every corner of the world, and there aren’t a ton of restaurants nearby,” Denise says. “It’s fortunate that we have a lot of hungry people passing through. It allows us to do the volume we do.”
In the height of the summer, Whoa Nellie Deli does close to 1,000 tickets each day, with an average of three meals per ticket. The store needs a staff of 35, most of whom work exclusively at the deli, to meet the demand. Customers order at the counter and sit where they please, inside or out. Tioga Gas Mart overlooks the pristine waters of Mono Lake.
“I feel very fortunate about the location,” Denise says. “I get to live in the one of the most beautiful places in the world, the Eastern Sierras. People from all over the world come to visit every day, which says a lot about the beauty.”
On Thursdays and Sundays, a little live music draws big crowds. About a decade ago, a friend of the Donailles asked if he could set up his guitar outside and play. The response was so good, they decided to make it a regular event, free of charge to their customers.
Today, world of mouth attracts a variety of musicians, although many of them specialize in folk and bluegrass. They come from Tahoe, San Francisco and Los Angeles to play on the outdoor stage in this stunning setting. Customers can order draft beer and margaritas from the deli counter and listen all evening in the great outdoors.
What’s not to stop for?
Meet Denise Donaille
- Best thing about her job: “Working for my family. I’m driven to do a good job to make them proud. I know firsthand all the hard work and time they put into the business to make it successful, and I want to continue to make it a great place.”
- Toughest thing about her job: “Keeping everyone happy all the time, whether it’s the customers or employees.”
- Favorite menu items: “The steak Caesar salad and fish tacos.”
- Vacation plans: “This year during the off-season, my husband, son (who is 10 months old) and I are going surfing in Fiji for two weeks. The rest of the winter will be filled with skiing, playing in the snow and enjoying lots of quality family time. And hopefully some more surfing.”
- Her heroes: “My dad, because he gets things done, and Nelson Mandela.”
- Ultimate dream for her business: “To have all amazing employees who never complain and always give great customer service. We are very close!”
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