Minnesota has Kwik Trips; Rhode Island has Dunkin’

When I first moved to Minnesota, one of the things I quickly realized was how much Minnesotans love their gas stations.
Everyone, it seems, has their favorite chain of gas stations.
Back home we love Dunkin’ Donuts, and after almost a decade of being with me, my Minnesotan wife may have finally realized what the hype is all about — so much so, she decided we’d wake up at 4 a.m. for it.
I will explain, but first, let’s talk about gas stations.
When I moved to St. James as a 21-year-old from Rhode Island, I quickly learned what Casey’s was.
I had never heard of it before, but there were three of them in the small communities between Mankato and South Dakota.
When I came out here for my interview and to Minnesota for the first time, I stayed in the only hotel in town while I waited to get a ride back to the airport from the publisher who was hiring me.
I did not have a vehicle, and found myself at the hotel relatively early. There were very few restaurants around, so I ended up checking out this place called Casey’s — and found out it was a heck of a lot more than your traditional gas station.
I would find myself frequently at Casey’s. There was one just a couple of blocks from my newspaper office, and I would religiously walk over there every Tuesday — deadline day — for a late lunch.
Just a minute or two drive from my typical Casey’s, there was a different Casey’s, which I would frequently stop by as well; I got to know one of the employees pretty well, and in true small town fashion, learned she actually lived behind me.
Then I met a woman from Mankato, and my mind was blown away once again when she introduced me to Kwik Trip.
In her household, Kwik Trip was — and remains — the gas station of choice.
I had no idea what a Kwik Trip was, but quickly became a true believer.
This was reinforced when I moved to Kasson, and Kwik Trip was the main spot. I lived in Kasson well before the new one on Hwy. 57 was built, but still, Kwik Trip was the spot.
I think there is something to be said about how geographical locations make a major impact on what our preferences are in life. If you do not have something in your town or area, how can it become a favorite?
But what happens when you move and you no longer have certain businesses around you? It is something my wife and I have both experienced at different points in our relationship.
Right before the COVID-19 pandemic, my wife decided to move to Rhode Island with me while I explored a life outside of journalism for about 14 months.
Her biggest heartache? No Kwik Trips.
She tried every chain of gas stations New England has to offer, but nothing lived up to it. She would let anyone who would listen know.
Most people, including my family, had not a clue what a Kwik Trip was.
This is how I felt about Dunkin’ Donuts when I first moved here.
When I say there were Dunkin’s on just about every corner back home, I really am not exaggerating.
I looked around St. James and realized I wasn’t in Rhode Island anymore. The closest one was Mankato.
When I started dating the woman from Mankato who would become my wife, I asked her what the deal was. Why weren’t there any Dunkin’s? She said because it was horrible.
In fact, this is a common sentiment of many people from Minnesota. My mother-in-law had never had Dunkin’ before.Her daughter was dating this guy from an unknown place to her who would complain about not having one on every corner, like he was used to, so she agreed to try it one day after getting a coupon in the mail.
It was the first and only time she ever tried it.
Fast forward eight years — to last week.
My wife and I went to Dunkin’ one morning; she asked the employee when they would be getting the Dunkin’ buckets in — a small pail which you can fill with any drink.
The employee said the store would have them on Friday — but only 25 per location.
Thursday night rolled around.
My wife came home about 8 p.m. to tell me she drove past our local Dunkin’ to scope out if anyone was already waiting in line, sort of like what people used to do for Black Friday sales before Amazon and online shopping.
The next morning at 4 a.m., we woke up and went to Dunkin’.
We were the first ones in line and each got ourselves a bucket.
For me, it was a nice morning to remind myself of home.
For her, she got herself her favorite drink.
Maybe she is becoming part New Englander after all.