that’s true… why rappers always be at the gas station?
Electric vehicle at the gas station
lack of third places, thats why in places like nyc it was always common for people to hang out in front of corner stores. when you have deep wealth inequality and going places costs we don't have pool halls, diners, cheap coffee shops etc like we use to have to hang out at decades ago. middle class people have recreation centers, starbucks, country clubs etc. basically places they can regularly afford to hangout at, it doesn't cost anything to hangout at a gas station although thats not really a thing we do in nyc.
edit:
i also notice there are food deserts in a lot of black areas in the south and midwest so gas stations are usually the place to get drinks & snacks etc.
Third Places – communities outside of our homes, schools or workplaces – were impacted by the pandemic. How can we rebuild them?
www.nprillinois.org
vanguard.blog.brooklyn.edu
Arcades was another third place kids and young adults could go and choose not to spend money at all, whether it was in a beeper store, subways , gamestop, pizzaria or standalone arcade store. arcades are basically extinct now.