Elkridge Shell Reopens, Stays Open 24 Hours

After red gloves covered its gas pumps for more than three months, the fuel was flowing at on Tuesday, March 15.

The new management has big plans for after its previous leader ran into financial difficulties.

In addition to replenishing the fuel supply, new manager Sajjah Warraich is rejuvenating the station with a few changes—among them keeping the store open 24 hours. So far, the station and its store have had their doors open nonstop since business resumed at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Still, “most people don’t know we’re open again,” said Warraich, at work inside the store. Outside, just one customer was filling up at the pump.

Signs perched along Montgomery Road and Washington Boulevard informed passersby that the station was under new management, and flags planted in the mulch waved in welcome. It usually takes time for people to realize the station is back in business, said Warraich, at least from his experience.

Warraich lives in Howard County, in Laurel, and manages five other area stations—in Laurel, Hyattsville and Silver Spring—three of which are Shell. He said that one in Laurel had been closed for a month when he came in, and it takes a little while for business to pick up. Word of mouth will help, he said, adding that improving the customer experience is of utmost importance to the new management.

“As you come in, I want you to be able to see what we have," said Warraich, eyeing the currently haphazard arrangement of goods. Selling merchandise is important because that’s where he will make a profit.

“Most people think the dealer [manager] of the station is the owner,” Warraich said. “But that’s not true.” The owner is Potomac Energy Holdings, he explained, the company that regulates the station and leases the space to management for three years.

As managers, “we’re barely living on pennies," said Warraich. Usually, he makes a profit of 7 cents on the gallon; on Thursdays, when all Shell customers get 5 cents off, he will make 2 cents a gallon.

“Where we're making money is merchandise,” he said, and through the mechanic shop, which will be up and running again at Elkridge Shell within the week once it is up to Warraich's standards of cleanliness.

Perhaps most importantly, “we will be very aggressive with the gas prices,” said Warraich, who noted that the Elkridge Shell prices matched those of across the street. But customers need not ever fear running low on supplies at the station again. Said Warraich: “Not in my 25-year career have I ever run out of gas.”