Bad move, Exxon
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| The Pinecrest Exxon station at Pinecrest Plaza. |
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| This is what it used to look like. |
At a time when there’s an effort to create murals in central
Annandale, one long-time mural in the area – at the Pinecrest Service Center –
has been painted over.
Annandale, one long-time mural in the area – at the Pinecrest Service Center –
has been painted over.
“I honestly don’t know why it’s gone. I thought it was
really nice,” says Charlie Brown, the station’s new manager. The auto repair shop and Exxon gas station
is in the Pinecrest Shopping Center on Little River Turnpike, and the mural was
on the side of the building facing Braddock Road.
Mustafa Zeid, who purchased the business a few months ago,
agrees the mural should have been retained. “It looked nice,” he says. [Actually, it wasn’t a great piece of art, but at least it was better than a blank wall.]
agrees the mural should have been retained. “It looked nice,” he says. [Actually, it wasn’t a great piece of art, but at least it was better than a blank wall.]
Zeid asked Exxon, the owner of the building, not to paint over
the mural, but the company wanted
the entire building to be the same color. Zeid also owns Pinecrest Shell & Auto Repair across the street, at 6543 Little River Turnpike.
the mural, but the company wanted
the entire building to be the same color. Zeid also owns Pinecrest Shell & Auto Repair across the street, at 6543 Little River Turnpike.
The Pinecrest Exxon is expected to be torn down to make way
for a TD Bank. A zoning special exception was approved by the Fairfax County
Planning Commission nearly two years ago – and was also approved by the Board
of Supervisors – for the bank project. Construction could still be two or more
years away, however.
for a TD Bank. A zoning special exception was approved by the Fairfax County
Planning Commission nearly two years ago – and was also approved by the Board
of Supervisors – for the bank project. Construction could still be two or more
years away, however.
22 responses to “Bad move, Exxon”
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"What is the robbing of a bank compared to the founding of a new one?" – Brecht
damn shame. Isn't that whole block being razed? Someone told me the low-riders moved out because condos are going up? Ellie any insight?
Nope.
Dumb idea. Thanks Exxon
Ellie, help me out with something- isnt this whole block slated to be re-developed? across from Home Depot?
Where did you hear this? Where exactly would the condos go? The parking lot?
After the Valdez accident I have refused to go to an Exxon or Mobil. In the industry, Exxon is referred to by other companies as "Double Cross".
That poor guy's name is Charlie Brown? 🙁
Maybe that's the reason they don't like cartoonish murals…
That wall had a nice picture of a Camaro. In previous years they also had a shrub trimmed with the shape of a muscle car.
That may actually not be a great reason to not buy exxon gas. Ive read that after the shame that was the valdez, exxon cleaned up its act pretty well and now has one of the better environmental records post-Valdez. Granted, its "better" amongst a bunch of devils, but still – if you are just making a judgement on Valdez, you owe it to yourself to make a second look at the companies.
To add to the offense, for years the old station featured a wonderful example of creative topiary, consisting of several evergreen bushes shaped into the image of a life-size automobile, sort of a'70s vintage sedan. At some point last year it simply disappeared. Too much trouble to trim, perhaps? In any case, another sad loss to the community.
Someone set fire to the topiary at one point and ultimately they had to remove it.
Exxon got out of the retail gas business 8 years ago. The Texas based company didn't paint over that mural – one of the local distributor owners did. It's convenient for the manager to blame big oil though – let's his bosses off the hook. It's a shame – I liked that mural. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/25126563/ns/business-oil_and_energy/t/exxon-sell-all-companys-gas-stations/
Why do we need another bank? They are all over the place.
Because the proletariat of Mason District deposit their cash earnings frequently at branches.
Wasn't this property owned by Saslaw? I know he owns several properties in the area and I thought this was one of them. He own the property at the corner of Braddock & Backlick where the bank is and I believe he also own the gas station property at Ravensworth shopping center. Ellie correct me if I am wrong but I do believe I am correct.
These foreign new comers have no respect for us, they just keep downgrading our neighborhoods.
That's exactly what the American Indian said about your family…
Anon 8:14: "Zeid asked Exxon, the owner of the building, not to paint over the mural, but the company wanted the entire building to be the same color."
Did you read the article? Exxon had it repainted, not the owner.
Wow…
The American Indian has been crying ever since all this crap moved here and raped this country's natural beauty as it continues to be turned into a third world dump by all these nasty don't belong here foreigners.
I heard the previous owner passed away that's why all the low riders and the dunks were moved out.