Because the demand for fuel in America has always been steady, gas stations are a wonderful business to franchise. The country is fueled by gas, making the gas station industry worth $250 billion per year. But despite the large number of gas stations sprinkled throughout almost every road in the nation, gas stations are also among the least well-known architectural structures in the industry.
To help you build or update a structure in this niche market, this article may help. Listed below are California’s 10 best gas contractors that can help you with your industry needs.
W.L. Butler
1629 Main Street, Redwood City, CA 94063
William L. Butler is an award-winning gas station contractor started by W. L. Butler in 1975. This team of expert contractors also specializes in a vast spectrum of varying industries such as automotive, mixed-use, retail, offices, industrial, food service, and non-profits among others. They serve all of California, as well as Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming, with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, East Bay, Central Valley, and Orange County. Over the years, the firm’s dedication to building has been the fuel in accumulating numerous certifications and multiple prestigious awards such as the Nate Thurmond Award in 2019 by the Good Tidings Foundation, and their most recent Silver Spur Award in 2021. Founder Bill Butler has served various charitable organizations over the years, and this has helped the firm become one of the Top Corporate Philanthropists. W.L. Butler has the honor of working with many known brands including Clean Energy and Costco.
Hilbers Inc
770 N. Walton Ave. Suite 100, Yuba City, CA 95993
Hilbers Inc’s reputation has been critical to their long-term success since their founding in 1962. They’ve grown from a tiny, local enterprise creating custom houses to a nationally recognized provider of construction services for a variety of industries over the previous 45 years. Since its inception, Hilbers, Inc. has focused only on commercial construction, amassing a diverse portfolio of projects including restaurants, schools, churches, retail, medical, gas stations, and pre-engineered steel structures. The Hilbers, Inc. staff has considerable experience in various types of construction, including wood-framed, steel-framed, and concrete tilt-up. They have three completed gas stations spread throughout the state. Hilbers Inc is also the recipient of the Design Award for The Rec Center at Boulevard back in 2020 by the AIA San Mateo County.
Zigman/Shields General Contractors
3276 Rosecrans St. Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92110
A seasoned professional in the construction industry with over 35 years of experience and heralded as one of the most successful general contractors in Southern California, Josh Zigman formed Zigman/Shields General Contractors in 1989 and quickly established a reputation as a high-quality commercial contractor. The magnitude and complexity of Zigman/Shields’ projects expanded in tandem with the firm’s reputation, having worked with one of the more renowned brands such as Shell and Chevron. Today, Zigman/Shields is expanding throughout California with 12 accomplished works, with referrals and returning clients accounting for the majority of their business.
Featured here is the Laurel Pacific Valero gas station Zigman/Shields completed in 2019.
Western Pump, Inc.
3235 “F” Street, San Diego, CA 92102
Acquiring an impressive build portfolio since their establishment in 1978, Western Pump provides services to various gas stations and transportation infrastructure. In Southern California, they are the only fully integrated construction, service, maintenance, compliance, and fuel station equipment distribution organization. They’ve been exceeding customer expectations for over 70 years by providing services that bring comfort and convenience. The wide array of clients Western Pump has been able to work with in all their years of service include retail gas stations, car washes, and convenience stores, as well as government entities and a variety of commercial transportation facilities.
The photo below is one of their most notable works, the Love’s Travel Stop & Country Store, in Bliss, was recently completed and opened its doors. Excavation and trenching, installation of the auto and diesel fueling areas, installation of the auto and diesel forecourt, all piping systems, monitoring system installation, all fuel system electrical and testing, start-up, and commissioning of the site were all part of the firm’s work for this project.
Fastech
7050 Village Drive Suite D, Buena Park, CA 90621
Fueling and Service Technologies, Inc., or Fastech is a full-service energy solutions provider that has specialized in the site design, building, maintenance, and compliance testing of conventional and alternative fueling infrastructure, including conventional and renewable stations, as well as commercial HVAC firms. Since 1994, this multi-certified firm’s portfolio comprises finished works for well-known companies such as Shell, 7-11, and Chevron, but have also been behind the design and construction of numerous petroleum fueling facilities, fleet fueling facilities, retail service stations, bulk petroleum facilities, emergency generation, and truck stops.
G&D Construction
710 E. Parkridge Ave. Suite 106., Corona, CA 92879
Under the leadership of its principal, Gaby Azar, G&D Construction has been California’s choice for completing the toughest and most demanding construction projects for over 20 years. Their hands-on commitment to every element of every project, from pre-construction to completion, has helped them cultivate tight connections with the greatest design teams and subcontractors in the state. G&D Development specializes in gas stations, car washes, convenience stores, and other commercial and residential construction around the country.
B&T Service Station Contractors
630 S Frontage Rd., Nipomo, CA 93444
Since 1980, B&T Service Station Contractors has been a go-to source for gasoline systems, retail service stations, convenience stores, car washes, vehicle maintenance businesses, lube equipment, remediation needs, and environmental compliance. B&T Service Station Contractors has become a known contractor mastering the processes in above and underground fuel systems for retail, commercial, and government clients with over 40 years of experience. They’ve managed to become one of the most sought-after contractors for major oil corporations, distributors, independent dealers, fleet services, and local, state, and federal government agencies. The firm was behind the construction of Safeway and the Food 4 Less Fuel Center along with 3 other notable works across the state.
Jauregui & Culver, Inc.
959 W. Mission Avenue, Escondido, CA 92025
Established by its namesakes, Jauregui & Culver, Inc. was founded in 1995 by principals John Culver and Peter Jauregui Sr. The firm specializes in gasoline station construction, including UST and AST system designs, installations, removals, remediation, regulatory upgrades, secondary containment repairs, compliance testing, and service station maintenance. The firm has earned multiple accreditations over the years and is an ICC-certified company. A sample of their work is this Cardiff-by-the-Sea fuel station shown below. The existing fuel tanks at 7-11 were removed and replaced by Jauregui & Culver, Inc. They also provided permits, shoring, new dispensers, a complete re-piping of the gasoline lines, and environmental cleanup to ensure a smooth build process.
Octagon Construction Inc.
3303 Harbor Blvd. Suite H-8, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Octagon Construction Inc. has been providing experience in the construction of commercial and residential buildings in California since 1999, ranging from gas stations, truck stops, and carwashes to residential and development projects. The firm has been involved in a variety of design-build projects of all sizes and delivery methods over several years. Having completed more than twenty successful projects, the firm has a long list of loyal clients including the 76 Gas Station and the Arco Gas Station. One of the firm’s most successful successful works is this conversion of the 76 gas station in Bundy, a project that is worth $450,000 overall.
Souza & Souza Construction, Inc
9222 Chesapeake Drive, San Diego, CA 92123
Garnering a team that has more than 100 years of collective experience, Souza & Souza Construction Inc. is a firm that specializes in restaurant, filling station, car wash, and convenience store construction since 1988. They have built a solid reputation for high-quality work, fair pricing, and on-time project completion for all of their clients, whether it be remodels or new builds. Principal Daniel P. Souza has helped the firm flourish its way to its success, leading a hardworking and capable management team in order to surpass client expectations.
