I understand the area is hardscrabble. And yes, 7/11 and Shell are franchises, that's the point. It's a response to the idea that mom and pop might not be able to step up to serve the community. That would be preferred, but if they don't, it's still possible to reduce the need for three hour drives, with a BigCorp that already knows how to do retail and already has the lines in place.

There are lots of ways to fill a hole.