CROOKSTON, MN — An 24-hour Ampride c-store, gas station and carwash here has added taxi service to its list of offerings, INFORUM reported.
The Jan. 13 story stated that the addition took some outside of the box thinking by Wayne Melbye, the location’s manager and a Crookston City Council member. The taxi business was opened in the c-store’s office nine months ago after another cab company folded.
Popular donut chain added to carwash
“You don’t usually put these two together, but then I started thinking that we already are open 24 hours a day, we have a carwash and we sell gas,” Melbye said in the story. “I thought it might be a good fit.”
At first Melbye guessed the service would at least be good PR for the multi-profit location, but the taxi offerings are financially above the board. Records showed 1,107 fares in December with a daily average of 36.
Fleet accounts and the bottom line
Melbye is one of 12 Ampride employees that share driving responsibilities for the 24/7 operation. The operation is getting busier, so Melbye is looking into getting a second cab.
The combined service has helped store sales as well. “Every once in awhile, someone will call for a ride and then ask, ‘Can you bring a sausage pizza with you?’”
Read the entire article here.
