“Here is my long-overdue excellent review of father and son duo John and Kosta at JD Auto on Newton St in Chestnut Hill— the best car mechanic at the best price. My family and I have been clients of JD Auto for decades and we have always been extremely happy with the care and skill they put into their work and into their relationships with their clients. They are a many decades long-running ethical family business and their mechanics have worked there for decades too. JD Auto regularly wins Best of Boston awards, including in 2025. They are truly honest and don’t overcharge. They will always show me what needs fixing so that I can see for myself and I can trust that I’m not being ripped off. I’ve sent many friends to JD Auto, and friends have told me that they were happy with the work and prices— they were quoted thousands of dollars more at other mechanics, told they needed work done that JD Auto said wasn’t necessary or worth their money to get done. In other words, John and Kosta at JD Auto will only suggest necessary repairs and they will save you lots of money. Additionally, John and Kosta seriously go above and beyond to help their clients. This week, I needed a starter for my old car and the starter was back ordered through February, which was months from now (it’s August now). John called every vendor he knew, without any luck. Any other mechanic would’ve told me “I tried but I can’t find the part you need. Tough luck.” But not John. John continued trying to help me. He sent his mechanic for a needle in the haystack kind of job, to find the starter for a 2013 Mazda at a parts shop. He found the correct part somehow, and I had my car back fixed within hours. Now isn’t that truly above and beyond?!? Come meet John and Kosta at JD Auto!”
“Staff helpful and friendly. Went to inspection sticker. They communicated 4 people before me and would be at least an hour wait. I appreciated that. Got me in an out quickly once my turn came up. Thank you!”
“Bring cash to avoid a $1.26 credit card fee for state inspections. Pulled in at 9:30am for an annual state inspection on a Saturday, was out by 9:45am. Waiting area has both an enclosed and a shaded space. Feels thoughtful.”
“I can't say enough nice things about these people! My daughter lives in the area and we have had to use the station for car repairs several times. They are kind and fair priced. Today- she had to drive there because of smoke from her car. They notices how upset she was and acknowledged it. It truly made her feel better and as a mom that lives in Chicago, it makes me feel good that they are there!”
“This gas station is located near a family friend, and I needed to get a fill up to make it back home. I'm from one of the only states that doesn't allow you to pump your own gas, so I'm always very nervous about doing so. The attendant here was an absolutely lovely man, who was very friendly and helped me out. I went out, pumped my gas, and then realized that I giving him a little too much cash. I went back inside and he pointed out that I could get my money back, something that seems so logical, but to me was unusual. This gas station is friendly, charges about the same price as everyone else, and is conveniently located. I would definitely recommend others to go to it.”
“Great experience at this QuikTrip! The staff is super friendly, and the convenience store is always clean and well-stocked. I love grabbing a quick snack or drink on the go.”
The Iowa retailer, the third-largest convenience store operator in the country, built its new three-year plan around three priorities: store growth, food and beverage expansion, and kitchen technology upgrades. The company plans to add 120 stores during the current fiscal year. Its previous plan, launched in 2023, delivered more than 500 new stores and earned the company a spot in the S&P 500.
Love's Travel Stops is starting 2025 with ambitious growth plans, adding 20 new stores and updating 50 current locations across the country. The truck stop company will upgrade its stores through its Strategic Remodel Initiative, which started in 2022. This includes the modernization of its recently acquired turnpike location in Stroud, Oklahoma. By 2035, over half of Love's 655 stores will be either new or updated.
Texas-born Buc-ee's is changing the way people think about gas stations and convenience stores. This chain is known for its huge stores along highways, some with over 100 fuel pumps. With its funny billboard ads, award-winning clean bathrooms, and branded items Buc-ee’s is hard to miss. The company wants people to actually plan to stop at Buc-ee's during road trips, not just go there as a last resort. And it's working - the chain has a huge fan base, with Facebook groups dedicated to Buc-ee's having hundreds of thousands of members.
Sheetz Inc., the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain, is making big moves in the Motor City. The company announced plans to open four more locations across metro Detroit, weeks before opening its first Michigan location. The first Michigan Sheetz will open its doors in late summer at 33380 Wick Road in Romulus. More locations are planned for Taylor, Warren, and Macomb Township, each employing around 30 people, mostly full-time.
Love's Travel Stops is rolling out a new system that turns work into a game for its restaurant employees. Picture this: Three big screens in each restaurant, tracking how fast workers greet customers, take orders, and hand out food. It's not just for show - early results say it's making service 11 seconds faster on average. "These monitors track key performance metrics in real-time, such as greet times, order processing times and the time it takes for food handoff," Love's explains. The system creates a more interactive environment, fostering friendly competition between stores.