Mark Patinkin: For 70 years, Duva’s Gas Station has offered a personal touch
When I got to
Actually, 5½, since he arrives at
No, that's wrong too.
He's really been there 50 years.
He's 65 and began helping his dad as a 15-year-old.
Though the real number here is 70 years.
As of this week, Duva's marked a rare anniversary -- a family business at the same spot for seven decades.
It opened opposite
It's now the opposite -- we fill up ourselves at zombie pumps with attached convenience stores.
Duva's has held out.
It's unique in another way, too.
Most of the few other full-service places are repair shops with pumps. Not Kenny's -- his only mission is to fill your tank with a friendly touch.
That's why
"This guy's amazing," said Charles.
The two had just pulled up in their Kia Sportage. They run Massage by Mari in North Providence, and love how Kenny gives a personal moment in a time of anonymous stations.
"It's nice to start your day off this way," said Mari.
Kenny is a descendant of a grandfather who came from
Over time, Kenny watched as other stations went self-service. But he felt there was room for the old way.
We sat to chat in his small, cluttered office, with pictures of those Kenny admires, including his grandfather, dad, the pope and
He kept leaning out the door, ready to leap at an arriving customer like it was his first day.
Soon,
When I asked Geo if he went out of his way to fill up here, he said, "Of course."
He explained: "Because of the personality of the man."
When someone treats you well, says Geo, you come back.
At that, Kenny gave Geo a bag of tomatoes and peppers from a garden he keeps next to the station. It's another benefit of being a regular at Duva's.
Annette added: "I wouldn't even know how to pump gas. I would drive for miles to come here."
Kenny averages between 150 and 200 cars a day. When I asked why he starts at
Just before I left, another customer pulled up -- a
Butler nodded toward Ken.
"Look at all the gray hair he has now," he joked. "He was a young man when I first started here."
I ask why he keeps coming back.
"Because he's good people, that's why."
Kenny plans to run Duva's at least three more years.
He'll keep it a personal place in a time of anonymity.
He knows his uniqueness is a small thing -- a human touch when you fill up.
But
(401) 277-7370
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Twitter: @MarkPatinkin
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