Twin Towers Exxon Service Station Stays in Tune with Customers

is among several gas stations in the borough dealing with fluctuating gas prices. Owner John Pappalardo, Jr. is firm in his belief that after serving generations of customers on a personal level, profit isn’t his main idea of success, but rather honesty, integrity and caring for each and every customer like family is.

The name "Twin Towers" comes from the buildings unique architecture; it has a tower on each side of the building, which adds to its landmark-like appearance. Without touching the original construction, in 2003, John Sr. built a larger, more modern facility, providing extra working space to keep up with the "ever-changing car."

John’s great grandparents, Guyatano Papparlardo and his wife, Josephine, founded the service station in 1929 at 1290 Anderson Ave. Using the building as their home and a service station, they also sold fruits and vegetables in the office, making it an early convenience store as well.

Two of their sons, John, Sr. and Paul Pappalardo grew up at the station. As the business grew, John Sr. focused on the business of auto repair and discontinued selling produce. He enjoyed servicing and maintaining the automobiles and helping people for more than 50 years.

John Jr. started helping with the business as an apprentice in 1975, later to become an auto mechanic. John, having a great rapport with his grandparents, parents and clients took it upon himself back then to start maintaining that personal level with his customers that his father did. Twin Towers Service Station is like one big happy family.

“We have to continually go to school and educate ourselves to keep up with the more modern ever-changing cars," John Jr. said. "It requires an investment of both knowledge and diagnostic equipment, so school’s never out. Being that all cars are now computerized, we have to know them to be able to fix them.”

Both John Jr. and his brother, Joseph, are ASE-certified mechanics. Twin Towers received the blue seal of excellence by ASE and is a AAA-approved facility. Twin Towers is also an emission repair facility and NAPA Auto Care Center.

The rising price of fuel is currently the biggest challenge.

“It is a tremendous out-of-pocket expense with no profit - money keeps coming out of our pocket,” John said. “There’s no fortune being made here.”

The perception, he said, is that people think a great deal of money is being made by selling gas, but John said, “The return after gas is delivered at the current market price is only pennies ... The credit card companies make more money than we do on each gallon of gas.”

Mike, a cousin, who is also an auto mechanic, has worked at the station for more than 20 years. He started there right out of high school. Due to the state of the economy currently, Mike says he feels lucky to be working there.  

Milton, another auto mechanic who previously worked in Hackensack but has been with Twin Towers for a few years, said the working conditions are good, and that it's a clean and friendly place to work.

"John’s a good guy; he’s a good boss," Milton said. "We’re customer-orientated here, making sure we treat everyone with respect with our knowledge and professionalism. We do a lot of difficult work here on all types of cars.”

John employs 10 part- and full-time multi-taskers and gas attendants.

A customer coming from New York, who gave his name as Rupert, said, "I walked over the bridge from 136th Street to see how my car was coming along."

"I find the reliability and time of service, as well as the efficiency and fairness of price, better than the other stations I’ve been to," the Rupert said. "It’s worth the walk. My preference is coming here." 

The customer added, “John is very friendly, and as far as I can tell, is truthful and gives me good advice. The guy has to make a living.”

Providing gas and especially car maintenance consistently is a full-time commitment. John’s wife, Julie, certainly knows about the lack of time spent at home. It seems to her that her husband spends more time at work.

But Sundays when the gas station is closed are special for the family. Their one child, 19-year-old Michelle, is away at college.

Exxon Twin Towers Service station, in keeping the business modern, provides a clean waiting room with a customer bathroom, snack and beverage machines, an air hose and is a full repair facility and a New Jersey State Inspection Center.

For service or information, call 201-224-8444.