Chevron Station Near Downtown LA Charges Over $8 Per Gallon
A Chevron gas station located at 901 N Alameda Street, just outside downtown Los Angeles, is charging more than $8 per gallon for regular gasoline—nearly $3 higher than the city's average price.
While some might associate such high prices with upscale experiences, similar to Erewhon grocery stores that charge premium prices for products like $22 smoothies, this particular Chevron station offers no such luxury. Situated on the edge of LA’s Chinatown, the station is a modest, unremarkable facility frequently cited in news reports highlighting the rising cost of fuel in the area. On a Tuesday midday, the station listed regular gasoline at $8.31 per gallon.
Gas Price Spike Linked to Geopolitical Tensions
Gasoline prices have surged following recent US and Israeli military actions against Iran, according to market analysts. However, the Alameda Street station’s prices are an outlier compared to the Los Angeles average, which is approximately $5.37 per gallon.
An attendant at the station, who preferred to remain anonymous, attributed the elevated prices to the station’s downtown location. When asked why other stations within a two-mile radius offered significantly lower prices, the attendant declined to comment.
Low Customer Traffic Despite High Prices
The station appeared largely deserted during observation. An unhoused man purchased a bottle of Pepsi, while two vehicles approached the pumps but left without refueling. Over a 40-minute period, only two customers bought gasoline. One was a woman in a black SUV with Nevada license plates who quickly filled her tank and departed toward Union Station, approximately two blocks away. The other was Alex Markarian, an employee at the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office near Grand Park.
“Really, I didn’t pay attention to the price when I drove in,”
Markarian said, expressing regret that he had not refueled his Prius near his Pomona home before coming to work. He purchased 4.1 gallons of gasoline, paying $34.56. He noted,
“Where I live it’s cheaper by at least $3 a gallon. I calculated I paid a $12 tax ‘for just being lazy’.”
Content Creator and Police Presence
A content creator arrived at the station and began filming footage. The attendant declined to provide contact information for the station’s owner and stated they were not interested in interviews, emphasizing,
“This is private property.”
Shortly thereafter, a police cruiser arrived with its lights activated, prompting the content creator to move to the public sidewalk.
Ownership and Customer Feedback
The Chevron station is owned by Joe Bezerra Jr’s Hawk II Environmental Group. Public records show that the Bezerra family has operated independent fuel stations in Southern California for many years. Attempts to contact Joe Bezerra Jr. and other family members were unsuccessful.
Online reviews suggest that Hawk II stations may have a reputation for frustrating customers. One reviewer criticized the Hacienda Heights location for charging $1 for a small amount of ice. Others have complained about high gas prices at various Hawk II stations, with some labeling the Alameda Street station a scam. Several customers have alleged price gouging or deceptive practices.
Legal Perspective on Pricing
Despite the high prices, such charges are likely legal. Keven Chavez, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, explained that businesses can set high prices or raise them substantially without violating price gouging laws unless the increases occur during a declared federal, state, or local emergency.
AAA spokesperson Kandace Redd also noted that it is neither illegal nor unusual for gas stations in close proximity to have different prices. She stated,
“[Prices] can depend on factors such as traffic, rent or where the station gets its fuel. Gas stations in busy areas, such as near highways, airports, tourist destinations or downtown districts, often charge higher prices.”
Redd pointed out that the Bezerra-owned Chevron is located between tourist attractions Olvera Street and Philippe the Original, a well-known LA eatery famous for its French dip sandwiches. Higher rent and operating costs in this area could contribute to the elevated prices.
Environmental Regulations and Seasonal Fuel Changes
Additionally, California gas stations are required to switch to a special gasoline formula in spring that is more environmentally friendly for warm weather but more expensive to produce. These increased production costs are typically passed on to consumers. Redd recommended that consumers use AAA’s free app to compare prices and locate stations in real time.
Profit Margins and Taxation
While some may view the station owner as opportunistic, it is important to recognize that gas station operators generally earn slim profit margins on fuel sales, often only a few cents per gallon. In California, nearly 90 cents of every gallon sold goes toward local, state, and federal taxes. The remainder is largely allocated to oil producers and costs related to refining, distribution, and marketing, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores, a trade group representing the gas station and convenience store industry.
Conversely, station owners typically generate higher profits from sales of beverages and snacks, where margins can exceed 40%. It is possible that the station earned more revenue from the unhoused man’s Pepsi purchase than from Markarian’s gasoline purchase.
Customer Reaction
Despite these factors, customers remain dissatisfied with the high prices. Markarian expressed his intention to avoid the station in the future, stating,
“I won’t be stopping for gas here again, that’s for sure.”
