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“This place has got everything” (including vaxes)
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller * SJ-R…
I think I’ve told you that I always stop in Pontiac for gas, whether I need it or not. It’s my only real superstition. My maternal grandparents are buried there, my mom was born there, and the only time I can remember not stopping I was involved in a car accident, so better safe than sorry. I first encountered Wally’s as I drove to my uncle’s house from my parent’s place. I needed gas, so my brother Devin and I decided to go inside and check it out. If you’ve never been there… wow. Like the headline says, it has everything. I’ve never seen such a thing. I’ve since heard several Chicago-area legislators and lobbyists enthusiastically talk about their Wally’s experiences. My uncle loves jerky, and they have a jerky bar at the gas station, so I was all over it. Anyway, this post really means nothing at all except to say if you still need to get your shots, maybe stop by that gigantified gas station on I-55 and kill two birds with one stone. [Headline explained here.]
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- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 2:13 pm:
Disco pants and haircuts.
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 2:18 pm:
The new Oldsmobile’s are out early this year.
In my younger days myself and a few friends had a tradition of heading out to the Iowa-80 truck stop. While I haven’t been to Wally’s, it sounds similar.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 2:18 pm:
“New Oldsmobiles are in early this year.”
To the post,
I need to get to Wally’s it sounds magical and mythical all at the same time, and is a place of pure joy and jubilation too.
Even the t-shirts seem too good to be true.
Who will be the first to have a fundraiser there?
- Dave Dahl - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 2:21 pm:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-stcy2er7w
- Fav Human - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 2:22 pm:
jerky bar
I wonder which is more bizarre, the jerky bar at a truck stop or the olive bar in Mariano’s?
- View from the Cheap Seats - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 2:27 pm:
Beef Jerky bar….that’s all you need to know. Solid
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 2:28 pm:
“We’ll be all right if we can just get back on the expressway.”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 2:28 pm:
“Do you have a Miss Piggy?”
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 2:33 pm:
Our first thought when we got there was this HAD to be a chain…it has a full gift shop of Wally’s-themed items (which we got) and the branded car out front. But this is the first one ever and it seems like they put all the eggs into this basket to try to kick-off a nationwide chain (the second Wally’s is under construction, I heard). The cashier I spoke to was super-enthusiastic about the place, because he climbed the ladder to become an Assistant Manager in a matter of months.
I hope it’s sustainable, especially with the excessive surplus of gas pumps and lack of amenities for truckers…it’s also a bit out of the way to go in a big circle to get to it.
- ItsMillerTime - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 2:36 pm:
How much jerky is Wally’s giving you to post this Rich? /snark
- CubsFan16 - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 3:03 pm:
Wally’s is an electric experience.
- North Park - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 3:03 pm:
Does anyone know what the biodiesel percentage is at Wally’s? I’ve got a persnickety van that doesn’t run well on it and am always looking for no or low content.
- stephaniejsb - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 3:45 pm:
Does one’s drive down to Springfield even count if one does not include (1) a stop in Pontiac without a real need other than this is when the long-drive pins and needles and road boredom really kick in? and (2) buying unnecessary snacks that you would not otherwise fool with at Wally’s?
- Scott - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 4:01 pm:
I’ve never been to Wally’s, but from looking at their website, it reminds me a lot of a Buc-ee’s (chain of HUGE convenience stores mostly in Texas, but have recently added a few locations in AL, GA, and FL), including the meat carving station, jerky bar, etc.
- Nearly Normal - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 4:10 pm:
North Park–Call Wally’s and ask about their gas
815-844-8690
- Suburbanon - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 4:10 pm:
Wally’s is definitely a Buc-ee wannabee. It’s new so it doesn’t have the Buc-ee crowds yet. It will in time. My only complaint is no road side sign giving gas price.
- Our Joe - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 4:38 pm:
=reminds me a lot of a Buc-ee’s==
Yes, when traveling south on I-75 to Florida, or in Texas, do not pass up a Buc-ees.
- FormerParatrooper - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 6:36 pm:
Buc-ees and Wally seem almost identical in merchandise and layout. Even the brisket sandwich station is close. Reminds me, I need a brisket sandwich.
- North Park - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 9:46 am:
Finally made it to Wally’s this morning. Amazing. Sadly, for the record, their diesel is B20.