Midwest Gas Station Chain Kum & Go To Be Rebranded After Decades Of Jokes
I remember the first time I drove by a Kum & Go gas station in Southern Minnesota. I thought, "This can't be real right?"
For almost 50 years, Kum & Go Gas Stations have been operating in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Arkansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Wyoming.
How did they come up with Kum & Go anyway?
According to CNN, Kum & Go was founded in Iowa in 1959 by a guy and his father-in-law. The K stands for Bill Krause and the G stands for his father-in-law- T.S. Gentle. They were trying to keep costs down with signage, and figured Kum & Go used the fewest letters. That's why they went with it.
Of course, there have been immature and lewd jokes about the name since it officially became Kum & Go in 1975. The owner Bill Krause passed away in 2013 and said he could be offended, but rather looked at the fact that 100,000 people walked into his gas stations every day.
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Kum & Go was purchased by Rival Chain Maverik.
Kum & Go competitor Maverik purchased the Midwest gas station chain. With the acquisition of Kum & Go's 400 locations, it will make Maverik the 12th largest gas station chain in the United States.
State By State Rebranding Approach
Maverik says after the purchase they will be looking to rebrand each market for what's the best customer experience. We don't know yet when the Kum & Go signage will be gone forever.
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Gallery Credit: Sophia Crisafulli