Alyssa Gonzalez waited more than two hours in line to fill up her tank, drawn by gas prices so low they haven’t been seen in the Chicago area in years.
Gonzalez was one of hundreds who lined up at a Shell station Tuesday morning in the Hermosa neighborhood to fill their tanks for $1.99 a gallon.
“I recently lost my job, but I still need to to drive my kids around,” said the 29-year-old mom of three. “I can breathe a little now.”
With gas prices soaring since the U.S. attack on Iran and the closing of Strait of Hormuz, the Shell station, at 4357 W. Belmont Ave., partnered with T-Mobile for a promotional event. Gas prices in Chicago have jumped to over $5 a gallon for the first time in four years.
Gonzalez, of suburban River Grove, said she typically spends nearly $50 weekly to fill her gas tank. Tuesday, she paid nearly half of that.
T-Mobile hosted the promotion to celebrate the 10th anniversary of T-Mobile Tuesdays, the company’s weekly rewards program that launched in 2016. The gas station was transformed with the carrier’s signature pink branding, while members of the promotional team, dressed in bright pink vests, directed drivers through the station and helped keep traffic moving.
The line of vehicles stretched nearly a mile and a half through the neighborhood as drivers waited for their turn at the pumps.
Most drivers were all smiles as attendants directed them to available pumps, and a few even became emotional. Some began lining up early Tuesday, and by the afternoon, nearly 300 vehicles had made their way through the station.
Before the promotion, regular gas at the station was selling for $5.09 a gallon, according to station manager Alex Abraham.
He said premium fuel proved to be the most popular option among drivers Tuesday. The station began the event with about 4,000 gallons of unleaded and 4,000 gallons of premium fuel. By 2 p.m., only about 1,000 gallons of premium remained, while roughly 3,000 gallons of unleaded fuel were still available.
Rupert Medina, who lives two blocks away from the gas station, said the wait “was worth it.” The 67-year-old retiree said the deal — he bought nine gallons — provided at least some temporary relief.
“I’m on a fixed income so this helps,” said Medina. “People want to travel or do other things but you can’t because everything is so expensive. Inflation is killing us.”
Danny Cordero, who also lives in the neighborhood, took a break from work to wait in line. He said the hour and a half wait was worth “saving some money.”
Cordero, who filled up with seven gallons, said he wished he’d arrived with an empty tank but was still grateful to save some money.
“What I saved today means I can spend that on lunch for my kids,” said Cordero, 30.
Tuesday’s event started at 9:30 a.m. and was scheduled to run until 2:30 p.m. — or until the gas runs out.
As of 2 p.m., the fuel was still flowing.