Hangry Planet in San Bruno

From a distance, this suburban Shell station looks like any other fuel stop, but the closer you get, the weirder it becomes. On the roof, there’s a trident-wielding merman and a large, upside-down melting ice cream cone. The storefront underneath is a riot of color, featuring a giant nutcracker on a toy block, a massive fiberglass chicken, a spotted red mushroom, and a Zoltar fortune-telling machine. The windows are covered with psychedelic posters of space-faring cows advocating for plant-based diets.

Established in 2021, Hangry Planet claims to be North America’s first fully plant-based convenience store. Inside, standard-issue Slim Jims have been ditched in favor of a carefully curated selection of plant-based, dairy-free products, from brands like Donut Farm, Go Max Go, and Oatly. For those seeking more than snacks, there’s plant-based BBQ and soul food from Vegan Mob.

The quirkiness extends into the “virtual reality” car wash, which uses six projectors to create a “multifaceted land of wonder”. Customers can tune their radios to 90.1 FM to listen to entertaining narratives and “earth awareness” lessons as they pass through the wash tunnel.

Beyond the kitsch, the mission is serious. The store funnels 11% of its profits toward animal protection, orphan care, and local schools. It all goes to show that even a gas station can be a force for a more ethical future.