Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Wright Place
New shop, The Wright Place, settles in
From left, Patrick, Michele and Nick Wright took over the former Larry’s Service station in March. They are set to open the Wright Place Coffee Lab this week next to the shop.
After 30 years of running Larry’s Service Station in Oakesdale by himself, Larry Gardner has handed off the reins.
Opened in March, the new operation, “The Wright Place” is hitting a stride.
March 23 was the last day of Larry’s.
“The day I signed the papers is the day I quit,” said Gardner.
His shop opened June 1, 1985 when he took it over from his father, Gordon. The only change was the name. It went from Gordon’s Service to Larry’s Service.
“It just stayed the same, only the name,” Gardner said.
The gas station offered tire repair, batteries and gas.
Larry grew up in the business, working in the shop in high school with his dad, sweeping floors and changing tires. After graduating from Oakesdale High in 1968, he went to Spokane Falls Community College until he was drafted into the Army a year later.
Stationed with an engineering company at Fort Stewart, Ga., he ran the post office.
At one point his commander asked if he wanted to go to Vietnam.
“Well, I’d rather not,” Gardner said, “If I don’t have to.”
And that it was, after a year and a half in the service, he returned to Oakesdale and worked for his father for 10 years before taking over the station when Gordon retired.
Since then Larry has been there.
“Never took a vacation,” he said. “I don’t remember being sick.”
Days off included the major holidays; Fourth of July, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The Wright Place
Now the service station in Oakesdale is The Wright Place.
Run by Patrick and Michele Wright, the operation is a full-service gas station along with oil changes, small engine repair (tune ups, starters, radiators) and tire repair.
“It’s great, we’ve been super busy,” said Michele, who also acts as Oakesdale’s librarian two days per week.
When a car pulls up to the new station, a dinger goes off in the shop and someone comes out, pumps gas, washes the windshield and checks fluid levels.
The shop now has two gas pumps running again – after one was in operation for Larry – carrying regular and non-ethanol supreme; which powers lawnmowers, boats, motorcycles and more.
“That’s a hot item,” said Michele.
On Monday, the shop passed the Washington Weights and measures test, which confirms whether a gallon of gas is actually being pumped per the gallon meter.
“Ours was right on the money,” Michele said.
After the couple bought the station – tools and inventory included – they did some cleaning and brought in some new equipment.
“A lot of cleaning out, replacing parts from the ‘50s with parts from the 20th century,” said Michele. “We put the cash register in the museum.”
Although, it turned out the 1910-1930 register was something the McCoy Valley Museum already had. So the Wrights gave it to city councilman Al Evans for his shop next door.
The Wright Places’ gas pumps are from 1992, and since the gauge only goes up to $2.99, for now they have to price gas – when over $2.99 per gallon – by the half gallon.
Patrick has also worked to get the old Pepsi machine out front working again.
“It’s ice cold, it just won’t take my quarters,” he said. “I’m on the cusp of getting it running.”
Before buying the shop, Patrick worked as a machinist in Spokane for 20 years.
“His commute went from 50 miles one way to about eight blocks,” said Michele.
The Wright Place’s service commitment extends to a home phone number on their business card, for after hours.
The shop is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Wright Place Coffee Lab
While the service station hums, the Wrights are about to open a complementary business in the lot next door.
The Wright Place Coffee Lab is set to debut this week or next, as the operators await a visit from Avista to install a new electrical meter.
Before deciding to open the drive-through business, the Wright’s son Nick tapped a traffic study which showed 1,100 cars passed by the Highway 27 property per day, which is on the Palouse Scenic Byway.
The coffee lab will offer a variety of choices.
“All sorts of coffee drinks, just like the Daily Grind,” said Michele.
Once the coffee stand is running, Michele and Nick will operate it, trading off during the school year after Nick’s morning classes – he is also the band director at Oakesdale School.
Both he and sister Katie graduated from Oakesdale High School.
The stand will be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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