Mad Munch Grilled Cheezer Co.

Follow the story below of Mad Munch: It's long strange trip from the prairies of Illinois to the sunny shores of Ocean Beach, San Diego....

16 January 2025

"Who's the Boss?"

"Who's the boss?" a young guy asked us when we were packing up at the end of the OB market.

"Tony Danza," Kate said.

"Alright, well give this to him," the young guy said handed her a flyer.

I normally don't remember all of the sales pitches & flyers that get handed our way but this particular one really helped us out.  It was for a company called Expo Propane, Inc.

At the time I was exchanging one of my two empty tanks each week or so for $21.59 at 7-Eleven.  But, on the flyer, they claimed to have the "lowest propane prices in town" & "no wait" to fill up your tank.  There was also a map on there showing it next to the airport, which I drove past every week to go to Restaurant Depot.  It was worth checking out.

The next Tuesday when I shopped, I stopped by Expo.  It was on a little concrete island between one way streets with a giant white tank that looked like a rocket.  I pulled up & grabbed my empty tank out of my truck.  Mike was super nice (that was the name on his workshirt) & filled up my tank in under a minute.  

"Let's see," he said & looked at the meter & then glanced at a chart from his pocket, "that'll be nine fifty-seven."  I handed him a $10 bill.  

"Oh, cash.  I love cash.  We'll do nine then.  Let me grab you some change."

"Can I get a receipt, too?" I asked.  He nodded & walked over to a little shed & came back with both.  I thanked him, secured my tank in the rear of my truck & got back on the 5. 

It was the first of many exchanges there over the next five plus years.  Sometimes Mike would tell me a joke or I'd be wearing some band t-shirt & we'd talk about music or the Padres.  And, some weeks I'd have to wait for a customer ahead of me & after he filled me up he say, "It's on the house, today.  Keep your money."

Expo is almost a throwback to the old service gas station era right next to one of the busiest single runway airports in the world.  They saved Mad Munch at least $2000 on propane since 2014 & we still go there when we need a refill & recommend it to others.  

It turns out they were the boss, of propane anyway.    

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