Old gas stations bathrooms on the outside?

[Vern_in_IL]

I can remember the older gas stations had the bathroom entry door on the outside on the side of the building, and you had to get a key from the attendant to use them.

So why didn't they just have the bathroom entry inside to begin with? What was the thinking behind this design?

 

[copcarguy]

Would you want to be the attendant with random transient people "blowing up" your workspace? I'd want the door outside to vent lol.

 

[aquariuscsm]

We went and ate at the Goode BBQ restaurant in Houston the other weekend,and they had the bathrooms outside just like that. Old converted gas station maybe? Then last weekend we'd driven up to Plano and I needed to make a pit stop haha,and she kept making fun of me because I would only stop at what I call a "branded" convenience store that's modern,huge,and has clean decent and not nasty bathrooms. I wasn't about to stop at some nasty "EZ Stop" haha.

 

[RedOakRanch]

My business built their store with outside bathrooms for all the nasty people who come in. If your clean looking you get the inside key!

 

[Virtus_Probi]

Old school gas stations usually had little to nothing in retail except for the fuel...maybe a few snacks and some basic auto fluids.
I'm sure a big reason for having the bathroom access from the inside now in the modern gas station/convenience store is to get you to walk past stuff to buy for increasing impulse purchases. Indoor bathrooms can still require keys for access, of course, but somebody who comes in and finds they need a key might just leave unless it's a true emergency and then not buy anything. I know that I hate to touch the keys and whatever big thing they are almost always attached to, never saw one that was not super nasty.
It was probably much easier to clean to bathrooms with the outside doors, start off by taking the paper out and then just hosing them down...

 

[BHopkins]

Getting the key from the attendant wasn't always necessary. This only became a practice when people would trash the bathroom. Getting the key from the attendant reduced the anonymity, and reduced this problem.

Also, keep in mind that way back when this style of gas stations were designed and built, there was no such thing as self-serve. An attendant came out to your window, you told them what you wanted, and they would pump your gas, clean the windshield, check tire pressure, and check oil level. Then he would return to your window, you would pay him, and be on your way.

Unless you were getting your car serviced in the shop, the customer would rarely step foot into the gas station office.

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: Vern_in_IL
So why didn't they just have the bathroom entry inside to begin with? What was the thinking behind this design?

Those old stations were pretty tiny inside, so there probably simply wasn't the room for doors to the restrooms. Or room for the accompanying odors... Of course, outdoor-accessed facilities could be used (and wrecked) by just anyone passing by -- unless controlled by a key.

Modern gas stations are much larger, and have convenience stores and what are called "food service" areas. These are high-profit areas for any gas station. It makes sense to put the restrooms inside (and at the back) in order to make sure that you will have maximum opportunity to spend money while you're in there.

 

[Nick1994]

In my experience, those bathrooms are always disgusting.

As aquariuscsm said, only large chain gas station bathrooms for me, only if I really have to go.

 

[Rand]

Another reason for keys.. keep homeless people from living in them.

Almost got mugged in DC by a homeless guy trying to get into the locked BK restroom.

 

[earlyre]

wasn't just old gas stations, these old "Southwestern" taco bell's also had their restrooms out back.
right in full view of the folks in the drive thru line..

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
In my experience, those bathrooms are always disgusting.

As aquariuscsm said, only large chain gas station bathrooms for me, only if I really have to go.


it used to be almost a travelers rule, in my family at least, that you could always count on McDonald's to have clean restrooms.
unfortunately that's not always the case anymore...

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: earlyre
it used to be almost a travelers rule, in my family at least, that you could always count on McDonald's to have clean restrooms.
unfortunately that's not always the case anymore...


We do that too. McDonald's always has an available restroom that you can use without getting the "evil eye" when you go in,and walk out without buying anything haha.

 

[ammolab]

I was in a McDonalds last week in Las Lunas NM. You had to ask the cashier to "buzz you in" to the bathroom.

 

[John_K]

I always thought it was part of the progression from outhouses to just having it "out back" but part of the building plumbing.

John

 

[SZR48207]

Nothing more embarrassing and gross than when the "key" is on a 16" long piece of PVC pipe so that it can't get lost or flushed down the toilet!

 

[Carbon]

Originally Posted By: Vern_in_IL
I can remember the older gas stations had the bathroom entry door on the outside on the side of the building, and you had to get a key from the attendant to use them.

I think those were largely service stations. When a car drove to a gas pump, the bell would alert the mechanic to pump gas.

There was normally not a cashier manning the register or watching over the inside.

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: Reddy45
Nothing more embarrassing and gross than when the "key" is on a 16" long piece of PVC pipe so that it can't get lost or flushed down the toilet!


Better than an old hubcap or washer fluid bottle!

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: Vern_in_IL

So why didn't they just have the bathroom entry inside to begin with? What was the thinking behind this design?


As I see it, most gas stations of 50 years ago were quite small. The bathrooms had no ventilation fans and.....
Do you see where this is going? I know a few guys who drop a deuce in the bathroom and the aroma they create could peel paint.
As I see it, the outside doors made the air breathable on the inside.
Like I said, that's how I see it....

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Originally Posted By: John_K
I always thought it was part of the progression from outhouses to just having it "out back" but part of the building plumbing.

John


John, that made me think of my Grandpa who had a Tavern. It was His an Hers outhouses. He never had indoor toilets.

The toilets with outside access was the sign of a different time. Not much change instead of the constant change we have today. Some of the ones I used looked like they were never cleaned which is pretty much the outhouse concept.

 

[c502cid]

I pumped a lot of gas in my youth at these stations and you always took a hose to clean them out. They used to send around company reps for surprise inspections which was part of the brand franchise agreement.

Hint from a road salesman.... hotel bathrooms. Just walk in like you are staying there, they are always next to the lobby, never a key needed.