Santee Arcos Close, USA Gas Signs Go Up

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Earlier this month the on Carlton Hills Boulevard , and recently the busy did the same. The gas pumps were laced with caution tape and the convenience stores were shuttered. But, signs of life and re-opening have emerged.

The Carlton Hills station now bears the name of USA Gas and workers were installing new pumps and digital control centers on Monday. The same treatment was being started at the Mission Gorge station, it was a hive of activity with many workers and even a cherry picker; but it's not entirely clear that the Mission Gorge station will be USA Gas as well- signs haven't gone up there yet.

USA Gas is owned by the Tesoro Corporation, and it is unclear if they will continue the Arco tradition of low prices. The tagline on their website indicates that is part of their purpose.

"Our vision is to be the premier low-cost supplier of transportation fuels in our markets," according to their website.

The brand switches of these two stations are a part of sell off by BP, the corporate owner of Arco, in which its Carson, California refinery and Southern California retail network of Arco stations were sold. Approximately 130 Arco stations will either become Thrifty's, USA Gas or another brand, according to a BP news release.

The loss of many Arco stations has some gas price analysts considering the affect on cheaper gas options.

A CBS station in Los Angeles quoted an Arco owner: "They [Arco] control the market because they’re low gas. So if there’s a Chevron across the street from you, they have to be close to you. Now there’s no Arco anymore, they don’t really care. They are going to work on any margin they want.”

No indication is available for when the stations will be open again to the public, or what

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