BIZNOTE: Hegge Chevron family’s ‘enormous thank you’ after 55 years of operating service station

Last month, we briefly reported on changes at Hegge Chevron as the service station at 35th/Holden was being sold. Now the deal’s about to close – signage was removed today – and the family that’s operated it for 55 years wants to thank the community. Here’s their message, sent by Linda Gunderson, daughter of station founder Ted Hegge:

I would like to share with the West Seattle community that the Hegge family has sold Hegge Chevron, located at 35th Ave SW and Holden St. We would like to thank all of you in the community for your loyal patronage over the years.

(Ted and Sharon Hegge)

Some of you may remember our dad, Ted Hegge, who started the business with our mom by his side in 1969. Our dad loved working in the community, serving all his customers and making some very good friends along the way. Sadly, Ted passed away in 1989 after a battle with cancer. Our mom decided to keep the station running after his death, with the help of our brother Mark, who took over the day-to-day task of running the business.

(Mark Hegge)

As did our dad, Mark also had a real connection with his customers and employees. Very painfully, Mark passed away unexpectedly in 2010. Our mom had a huge desire to continue to provide service to the community and keep the station running.

With our mom’s passing in April 2023, the family made the decision to sell the business. Our family would like to extend an enormous thank you to all the employees and customers who have been a part of Hegge Chevron. We could not have done it without your loyalty and commitment. The new owners will continue to employ the current workers. So you will still see the familiar faces of Karen, Alan, Sue, and Chris. Once again, a heartfelt thank you to all of you who have taken part in the history of Hegge Chevron.

The new owners plan to rebrand as Space Age, a family-owned regional chain. Permit files indicate they’ll turn the former repair area into convenience-store space.

14 Replies to "BIZNOTE: Hegge Chevron family's 'enormous thank you' after 55 years of operating service station"

  • Steve August 19, 2024 (4:30 pm)

    While I’m sad to see Hegge’s leave, I’m very happy to see the staff stay on!  Look forward to the new owners coming in. Welcome to the neighborhood. 

  • Seattlite August 19, 2024 (4:32 pm)

    I believe it is the only gas/service station in WS that still has dedicated pumps that are not self-serve.   That rare one-on-one service helps a lot of seniors and others with back problems and other health issues that make it hard to get in and out of their cars to pump the gas.  I hope the new owners will keep the one-on-one service.

  • Linda August 19, 2024 (6:20 pm)

    Yes, the employees have voiced that information to the buyers with the hopes of continuing that service.

  • Hammer in Hand August 19, 2024 (6:29 pm)

    Did any hear where Andy Barnucutt land. He was the repair tech after his dads station closed on Admiral 

    • Al King August 19, 2024 (8:12 pm)

      Another commenter said he’s at Tom’s Automotive. 

  • Good place August 19, 2024 (8:07 pm)

    My favorite gas station.  Good folks, good service.  

  • Beth August 20, 2024 (4:08 am)

    So sad to hear this. Heavy sigh. But, we understand.Also, Mark was such a nice guy. I remember him fondly.Time will tell, but I won’t buy unbranded fuel. Don’t care what the octane or labels say. It was nice that Hegge was close. Now just need to travel a little further.

    • Karen quealey August 21, 2024 (6:28 pm)

      There is a chevron station on delridge  across from the am pm 

  • Tom Leahy August 20, 2024 (7:54 pm)

    I am sad to hear that but I do suppose it is the right decision for the family. I worked for Ted in 1984-1985 while I was in high school. We had the station cleaned top to bottom every night. It was as something you could be proud of!

  • Mike August 21, 2024 (11:12 pm)

    Very sad. We’ve been taking our cars to Hegge for years… great service and affordable prices.. Another service station gone. We don’t need another convenience store selling candy bars and coffee. I see on the Space Age company website that some of their other locations still have a repair garage instead of a mini mart, I wish they would continue the auto repair garage here.  Hopefully they will reopen and fix the car wash too. West Seattle needs a good car wash. Maybe they could convert it into a Brown Bear? 

    • WSB August 21, 2024 (11:34 pm)

      I have questions out to them about their West Seattle plan, but no reply yet, so all we have is what’s publicly visible in the permit files. – TR

  • Dragster guy August 22, 2024 (4:59 am)

    Didn’t know them well, but they were always tolerant of me driving thru their lot to position my trailer in the alley as I rented a garage directly behind them and had to back in to unload. The alley was so rough and full of potholes it was most times impossible to come in from the north end. They were good nieghbors for sure…..

  • Naomi August 22, 2024 (10:12 am)

    We have lived just a block away from the Chevron for many years and I wanted to give a shout out to their workers who were always so friendly and kind. I always felt great about sending my kid up there to get a snack and they always had a treat for my dog. 

  • SSP August 28, 2024 (3:13 pm)

     Dear Ted Hegge,You weren’t always the nicest guy to kids on the school safety patrol who would take an opportunity to come in and purchase candy bars at those long-forgotten-(by-everyone-else) candy machines with the long (handles?) that you pulled after depositing your (20-25 cents?) (on the back wall of the now-mini-store there).But you were a fair man, and it was an honor and a tradition to stop into your station as needed.  Sometimes for a bike tire, now and then for a deflated basketball.  I can remember sitting in line with my dad, on 34th, approaching Holden, ready to turn right… in the gas lines of ’74.  Perhaps most important of all, Ted Hegge, is that your station was still there, mere blocks from home, always representing the relative comfort known to those with gas tanks approaching “E”, that they wouldn’t need to go too far to find you.Back in the day there were 2 or 3 gas stations up in your general area, but your station has survived and remained, loosely, what seems a part of “home”.Who knew half a century ago that you’d now be able to tune into a traffic camera on the internet and watch the tame comings and goings in the surrounds of Ted Hegge Chevron.Thanks Hegge family ~  from a representative of the School Safety Patrol

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