You’re Not (Road) Trippin’: Gas Station-Themed Pop-Ups Really Are Everywhere

Kinder Bueno kicked off road trip season with the return of "Summer Gets Bueno." At this year's rest stop takeover, which took place in Darien, Conn., in June, visitors experienced white-glove service and had the chance to receive a gift card with up to $25 worth of free gas; free Kinder Bueno and limited-edition Kinder Bueno white chocolate bars; and a slew of road trip necessities like disposable cameras, water bottles, car fresheners, and more.

"According to a survey by the National Confectioners Association, 94% of people headed on a road trip this summer will bring chocolate and candy with them. We also know that rising airline costs mean more travelers are choosing road trips over flying this summer. Back by popular demand, the 'Summer Gets Bueno' program gives travelers a special trip experience that they can savor, thanks to crispy, creamy Kinder Bueno chocolate," said Shalini Stansberry, vice president of marketing for Kinder Snacking, in a press release.

Kinder Bueno is also hosting a nationwide #SavorYourSummerSelfieContest now through Aug. 13, during which consumers can enter for a chance to win a one-week road trip experience in a custom RV, plus other summer prizes.

Mini Mart City Park in Seattle is an art venue, community space, and publicly accessible park built on the site of a gas station dating back to the 1920s that was decommissioned in the 1980s. For the new building, architecture and design firm GO’C created a drive-up-style plaza in front of a space that looks like a convenience store.

The snack brand hosted its retro Cheez-It Stop in June along the Twentynine Palms Highway in the Southern California desert. The throwback pop-up shop—which took over The Station, a renovated 1949 service station that can be rented for private events—was stocked with branded collectibles, merch, and snacks.

Outside, instead of gas pumps, the brand built the “World’s First and Only Cheez-It Pump” that literally pumped a stream of Cheez-It bags right into car windows. See more: Gas Prices Too High? This Service Station Pumps Cheez-Its Instead

At this year’s SXSW, Prime Video hosted an activation to celebrate the season one release of its latest psychological thriller, Swarm, which follows a Houston-based mega-fan as she obsesses over her favorite R&B singer. The branded mini mart—similar to the one that appears in the series—took over the lobby of the Austin Motel. Upon entering, guests received faux money to use inside, where they could purchase snacks and refreshments. Custom screen-printed T-shirts and branded bucket hats were also on offer, including souvenir Swarm-branded cups.

In addition to being the official tequila of the Revolve Festival at this year’s Coachella, 818 Tequila also hosted the 818 Outpost. The public-facing, gas station-inspired pop-up drew more than 2,000 consumers, who took home festival essentials from brands like Kylie Cosmetics, Revolve, Tower 28, Emi Jay, Vacation, Lemme, Pressed, Path, 8 Other Reasons, and Liquid IV. An 818 merch capsule with Cherry LA was also on-site.

In its first-ever Coachella activation, Marvel Studios invited travelers to Knowhere, a nod to the home base of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters. The immersive, public space, set off to the side of the road that attendees travel to get to the festival, featured fun photo ops, musical programming, and exclusive giveaways centered on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

To promote the reboot of Quantum Leap last year, NBC time-traveled back to the ’80s—hosting "Quantum Leap Day" on Sept. 15 and offering consumers the chance to score cheap gas during a one-day activation.

The Los Angeles event featured a drive-through experience followed by the chance for guests to score gas for 91 cents a gallon, the average price of gasoline in LA in 1985. Drivers received "dated" receipts with details on the series premiere. See more: Pump It Up: Why NBC Rolled Back Gas Prices Like It’s 1985

In 2019, YSL Beauty hosted its first Coachella activation on Route 111 in Cathedral City. The pop-up resembled a gas station with vintage convertibles and a massive lipstick sign, while an on-site store offered a makeup vending machine and consultations with beauty experts.