AM/PM

The Mace Blvd AM/PM. The Russell Blvd. AM/PM.

Location

705 Russell Blvd. (Russell Blvd. & Anderson Rd.)

333 Mace Blvd (Mace Blvd. & I 80)

Hours

Daily 24-hour

Phone

(530) 753-1349

Website

http://www.ampm.com

Car Wash Coupons

http://daviscouponsonline.com/arcoampm

One Davis AM/PM sits at the intersection of Russell and Anderson across the street from campus and Rite Aid. Another sits at Mace Blvd near I-80. Sometimes called "The AM-P". Note that the stores are sometimes locked for a short time late at night for cleaning, and the cash register is sometimes locked for a period of time (just don't go around 4 am).

Although conveniently located and a great place to fill up on soda and munchies (more on that below), there are some annoyances. The Mace AM/PM doesn't take credit cards, just cash and ATM cards. And while the gas is usually much cheaper than other places by about 20 cents/gal, you're charged 25 cents to use your ATM card. Annoyingly, there is another 45 cent surcharge from the ATM vendor. In addition, their wash stuff and squeegees are inferior and often empty. Finally, you may be "shoulder tapped" for booze by freshmen if you in any way resemble a person of drinking age.

They sell the usual junk food typical of gas stations. It's about as far as some clueless freshmen wander in search of something to do while procrastinating late at night.

• Forties (Not available at the Mace Blvd AM/PM)
  

• Nachos
  

• Hot Dogs
  

• Corn Dogs
  

• Chili Cheese Fritos
  

• Chips such as Flaming Hot Cheetos
  

• Icees

If you want nachos and the machine isn't serving the cheese or the chili sauce properly (and it rarely works right), take off the plastic shell from the top, pull the tubes inside forward a bit, squeeze, and turn the knobs (don't be shy; it's okay, really). The cheese should come flowing perfectly after that. Beware of filling up an entire tray full of cheese, as they have a 'extra cheese charge' they slap on the drunken chaps who try and take off with 5 times the cheese of the normal nacho consumer. Also, try putting jalapenos (found in the hot dog area) on your nachos!

In 2007, the Bee reported that a criminal ring used fake card readers at AM/PM stations to gather card data and PINs. The scam hit stations from Sacramento to Redding, but apparently not Davis. Still, these fake readers apparently work exclusively with AM/PM's type of readers. Who knows how many of these devices are still out there.