The Thumb: Is it a gas station, car wash, wine store, gift shop, bakery or BBQ?
We discovered The Thumb while visiting Arizona two years before we moved here. While driving to dinner one evening, our car told us to get gas and directed us to the closest gas station.
The car sent us to The Thumb. While my husband pumped gas, I noticed the two-story building that was unlike any gas station I’d ever seen before. I witnessed a stream of people leaving the building with white plastic bags with red lettering. Waving in the breeze were banners that said “BBQ.” There was a pig statue by the entrance as well as on top of the awning over the gas pumps.
What kind of barbecue is found inside a gas station, I wondered. The Thumb’s website says it’s “Just your average gas station…” Yet, it’s been featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” on Food Network.
This past Wednesday, I was driving my husband to his appointment for PT following a doctor’s appointment for me. Hubby was hungry and said he didn’t eat breakfast. We had 45 minutes to kill between our appointments. I noticed the last time I drove to PT that The Thumb was close to his PT.
I got a three-cheese quesadilla with brisket. He ordered an amazing breakfast burrito. It was so delicious! I wanted to look around the shop because the inventory has changed since my last visit. We went to The Thumb a couple times after first moving to Arizona, but it’s out of the way so we quit going.
From my first visit to The Thumb:
There was an extensive gift shop with all sorts of kitschy things like hand towels with funny sayings, Pug cha cha, cactus and other statues for the yard.
There was a pretty extensive wine section plus a bakery that looked so mouthwatering. I should have tried the snickerdoodles or homemade pop tarts! They looked scrumptious. One side of the building had a huge chandelier with tables for those eating in, plus a patio with more tables for dining al fresco. A huge aquarium had several people entranced.
Then there was the barbecue. People were lined up to order and people were stocking up on the six flavors of sauce.
We ordered a pound of brisket, some coleslaw and tried a few sauces. We both decided the original was best. After getting our gas we headed back to the condo we were staying in and surprised our daughter with an amazing dinner from the gas station!
So why is it called The Thumb, you ask? It’s named after a famous mountain and hike located in the preserve by our house called Tom Thumb. I found this photo online with thousands of Tom Thumb’s Trail images. It does look like a thumb.
If you happen to be driving through Scottsdale on the 101, I highly recommend a stop at the Thumb for a car wash, bakery, bottle of wine, barbecue, gifts — and oh yes, gas.
What unusual gas stations or shops have you discovered during your travels?
Thumbs up for this place! 😎
Definitely! 👍🏼
I’ve experienced the bigger chains: Maverick, Loves and Buccee’s on my way between WA and CO. Standard big chains that offer gas, food, even showers. Nothing as eclectic as The Thumb however!
Buccee’s is ridiculously huge. I was in northern CO about 1 hour from arrival here and my daughter told me I had to stop just to experience it. I was lost just trying to find the restroom. We actually have a Maverick just 5 minutes away since our community sits just off of I25 it’s a nice mid-way stop between Denver and the Springs. I get my gas there 🙂
We stopped at Loves driving from CA to AZ and I know what you mean. The Thumb is smaller but has more unique items and really good food. I drove past it the first two weeks taking my husband to PT and didn’t notice it! I’ve heard of Buccee’s but never been in one.
I’m pretty sure that I’d never step into another Buccee’s again unless I was desperate 🙂
That’s good to know!
I have to hand it to you, finding a place like the Thumb.
It’s a fun place. I may hang out there instead of the PT waiting room.
Hours later, I got your pun! I’m a little slow today.
Hee-hee. I’m glad you finally put your finger on it.
Ha ha!
that place looks awesome!! We were in either Tennessee or Kentucky and we saw something about Big Bubba Bucks belly bustin Bbq, or something like that, and it was total dive that we went to based off name and it was amazing!!
How funny! We’ve always tried out dives. Sometimes they are really good. I would have tried a place with a name like that, too.
how can you not try a restaurant with that name?
That’s a given!
We have yet to visit a Buccee’s which my stepson and family told us we must do! However, I did discover a place not that near us but in our travels where a couple bought a gas station called it Zoom Zooms. They have rows and rows of desserts (cupcakes) including Keto which we stopped for “Gretchen’s Goodies” delicious and low carb! It is an interesting place in a good location near doc office and other stops.
By the way, that was an unusual and interesting looking place. Gretchen’s Goodies also has rows and rows of counters, inside. We met the owners and talked about cupcakes!
The photos are from 2018 with a much older iphone. I will have to go in and get more recent photos. How fun to meet the owners and talk about your common interest.
Yes, I believe they were originally from the NY area. It was a well run place and near our doc location. Convenient! Sometimes with traffic, you look at what is near you, so cupcakes in a cup and keto were the bomb!
Perfect! Great they were originally from NY, too.
That’s great that you found a fun place, too. I will make a point of stopping by The Thumb for the next four to six weeks while my husband has PT.
Sounds like a good plan!
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How fun is that!
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So excited now for driving my husband to PT!
Lord knows filling up with gas isn’t fun anymore, might as well have some bbq to ease the sting.
😉
Yep! I just bought a few fun things at The Thumb, dishtowels, cards and cocktail napkins. Now I’m waiting for ribs while hubby is in PT.
What an interesting gas station – it sounds delicious and fun! So glad you are finding fun stops along the way to PT!! Hope the healing is going well.
My husband has turned the corner after two weeks. The surgeon told me my husband would be hating him for the first two weeks. He was correct! I’m going to browse through The Thumb’s country store today and order food to go. I usually sit and read in the waiting room at PT, but I can do both today.
I’ve been in Phoenix my entire life, and lived in Scottsdale off the 101 for 10+ years, but have never heard of The Thumb… I’ve never had a reason to go east on Bell, but I think now I do lol 😂
It was during a visit to our friend who died of Valley Fever that we discovered it. Also, our daughter moved to Tempe for one year right out of college, so she came with us on that trip. I’m happy it’s by PT, because it’s too far away to visit otherwise.
Yum! Kitschy things AND good food? Sounds like heaven! Thanks, Elizabeth. I’m realllllly hungry now! 😜
We got back from PT (and The Thumb for me) a little bit ago. I bought a bag of goodies from their country store including tea towels for July 4th. I also got delicious take out lunch for the two of us! I enjoyed the day so much more than the usual PT drive and sit. I also took new photos so I might have to post a follow up.
Such a find! I love quirky spots like that. It’s fun to find these little gems! Enjoy! 😘❤️😘
It is. I was thrilled to spot The Thumb around the corner on my husband’s third week of PT. It brought back memories of when we visited our friend and my daughter in Arizona before we moved here. I’ll enjoy The Thumb as long as my hubby has PT post surgery.
I like the sound of that…enjoy! And give my best to your husband! 😘
Thanks! 💕
I love the creativity of places like that!
I enjoyed browsing through all their merchandise yesterday instead of sitting in my husband’s PT waiting room!
I love this–how fun. I mean, if the food is good, why not?
We occasionally stop at Buccee’s on our travels from GA to FL. They have good food and clean bathrooms, lots of kitschy shopping opportunities, but the place is absolutely huge! People use shopping carts! My husband loves their beef jerky.
At our place in GA, there is an old Texaco station with a husband-and-wife-run pizza place inside. They have about six tables, but most people get stuff to-go. The food is delicious, and we always love to joke about getting dinner from The Gas Station.
I am stopping by every PT appointment now to get take out or browse. We’re inviting friends to have lunch at the gas station next week. They’ve never been there and think it’s a real hoot! I’ve never been to Buccee’s but I’ve heard they are huge.
That is a cool rock!
Sounds like a wonderful gas station.
The biggest gas station we have been to is Buckees! Its crazy how big it is. Like a little Walmart!
I love the idea of having a fish tank. The Thumb gas station sounds more inviting to me. Buckees was neat to visit once but its too big for my liking!
The Thumb is a fun place. We’re going there for lunch this week with neighbors who have never been there. They can’t wait to eat the gas station!
😃 Enjoy!
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