Sunday, June 21, 2015

The End of a Era - Goodbye Fuel B's

East of Colorado Springs is a town that wormed its way into my heart a few decades ago. I came out to Ellicott, Colorado to teach math. I meant to only do it for a single year then move back into Colorado Springs - I stayed for 18. 



There are also many, many wonderful people who took a young divorced man into their hearts and made him feel at home. Colorado is not known for it's plains. You think of Colorado you think mountains: Aspen, Vail, skiing, mountain meadows. Well, Ellicott is none of these. More than anything it resembles Kansas. There are ranches and a lot of them. 


For as long as I can remember there existed an institution near the crossroads of Ellicott Highway and Highway 94 - Fuel B's

To call it a gas station would be a gross injustice. Fuel B's was a pizza parlor, a sub shop, a place to to get your morning coffee or just meet with a friend. In my case it was a place to introduce the people of Ellicott (and Calhan, Simla, Peyton, Elbert, Falcon, Miami, and let's not forget Punkin Center) to my school teacher sleuth Bonnie Pinkwater. With each new installment of the mystery series, I had book signings at this wonderful oasis and friends would join me and take away a story centered on the plains outside of Colorado Springs.


Last Thursday (June 18th), I had another book signing - for Napier's Bones, the fifth mystery starring Mathematician Bonnie Pinkwater - at Fuel B's. And it may be my last. The good, good folks who have been the owners of Fuel B's have sold the establishment and starting on the 19th of June it will have new ownership and perhaps a new name. I have no idea if the new owners will keep the flavor of this gas station which is so much more. I can only hope so.


3 comments:

  1. I was in Fuel B's the day before the tornado.

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  2. I just became a senior at Ellicott High, thankfully the new owners are taking care of the place and it still has great service, but now it has fried chicken too haha. Shout out to Joseph B. And Alysa B. ! - Will S.

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  3. yes , I agree that children are wonderful! no matter where you are they have a special place in your heart. I'm happy that the time you spent in the school made you cheerful ! nice to read your article.

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