By Lexie V. Owen
A brisk walk down Main Street will bring you to Upland's Marathon gas station, also known as the Pit Stop. Outside, vehicles fill up with gasoline. Inside are conveniences such as auto supplies, snacks and every Taylor student's favorite: ice cold fountain pop!
The store is largely youth-oriented, with MTV playing on the television set and catchy tunes on the radio. Tiny pumpkins decorate the window sills for the season. Near the heated cookies and pizza, a friendly man offers a warm smile from behind the register.
Baljinder Singh has owned the Pit Stop for the past 11 months. When he bought the store last December he was interested in Marathon's quality gasoline. He had no idea what quality customers would soon be visiting his store. From behind the register, his eyes grew big and he grinned when he talked about Taylor students.
"They're always very polite, very gentle," Singh said. "They don't make a mess in the store. And the best thing: they don't smoke or anything."
Kevin Diller, associate professor of philosophy and religion, is a frequent Marathon customer and a friend of Singh. He's often witnessed interactions between Taylor students and the owner of Pit Stop.
"In general, Taylor students are very warm and respectful to him," Diller said. "They are appreciated customers."Singh shows his gratitude to Taylor students by making his store as convenient as possible. When he knows a customer buying gas is a Taylor student, he takes five cents off each gallon they purchase.
"The company doesn't care anything about that," Singh said. "I just pay from my pocket.
I try to keep Polar Pops very low." And he does. Even the 44 ounce drinks have remained less than a dollar.
The general character of Taylor students has made a lasting impression on Singh. Though no students currently work at Marathon, Singh is looking for one. He's even kept a weekend shift open in hopes that a student may apply.
"I know they are nice and they are good workers too," Singh said. "I don't have any experience about that. In the future, I'd love to take that experience. If anybody wants a job, they can come straight here."
To Singh, Taylor students are more than pleasant company. They've become loyal neighbors on whom he can rely.
"They are my major customers," Singh said. "When Taylor students go on break, business goes 40 percent down."
With August came relief for the Pit Stop. Singh makes sure his store is prepared for the return of his most valuable customers.
"He's always excited when students come back," Diller said. "He's a really hard worker and he's had to put in some long hours."
Singh's days grew even longer when he decided to keep his store open 24 hours.
"I was here 10 days before I started doing 24 hours again," Singh said. "Sometimes (the students) study in the night time and they need something to eat."
Singh's dedication has not been in vain. Students such as senior Josh Bate are greatly appreciative of Marathon's service.
"I think that the students are passionate about helping them out because we have connected with their staff," Bate said. "Going on Polar Pop runs, getting breadsticks, or occasionally stocking up for an all-nighter are just a few of the reasons it makes it convenient."
Singh had heard about the legendary 2012 Polar Pop run when 2,000 students lined up to support the employees of what was then Circle K. In August 2013, he was there to witness the second Polar Pop run.
"Oh, it was amazing!" He said as his face lit up. "About 600 kids showed up on that day. In three hours, I sold 600 pops. In the whole day, I sold 1,000. They are very loyal customers. That's why I opened my store 24 hours."
Diller became just as excited when he heard about the revival of the campus pop run.
"That event is always a big boost for them," Diller said. "I don't think there's even an official organization to it. It's more of a student expectation. It has an inertia of its own."
It appears that Taylor students don't need official organization to motivate them. According to senior Taylor Blake, who attended both Polar Pop runs, keeping the Marathon Pit Stop running is motivation enough.
"To me, the Polar Pop run is something that is showing support for people and places in Upland, and that we're not taking one of our favorite hangout spots for granted," Blake said. "Last year the event was organized to show we didn't want the business to close, and repeating the event meant we didn't forget we almost lost it."
The relationship between Taylor students and Pit Stop is one of mutual service and gratitude, and Taylor students can be proud to support a business that truly values them.
