Where commerce, conscience and community align
The corner of 36th Street and Lyndale Avenue South buzzed with energy Sunday, June 8 as neighbors, vendors and local leaders came together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of 36 Lyn Refuel Station. The event marked two decades since Lonnie McQuirter’s father first acquired the BP-affiliated convenience store in 2005 and honored what that corner has come to represent: innovation, sustainability and community.
With free food, music, and vendors like Benny’s Food Truck and Angry Line Cook MN lining the block, the event was more than a party. It was a reflection of 36 Lyn’s mission.
“This store has always been about more than just filling your tank,” said customer Aisha R., who’s been stopping by for more than a decade. “It’s about filling your soul too, supporting local makers, seeing your neighbors, feeling welcome.”
In 2007, McQuirter officially took over operations after leaving his position at Häagen‑Dazs and began reshaping the store’s vision.
“I always thought we could do more than sell chips and gas,” he said. “Why not offer bananas, fair-trade coffee, vegan snacks — and create a space that’s clean, cool, friendly and local?”
Today, 36 Lyn Refuel Station is considered a national model for community-first, sustainability-minded retail. Its shelves are stocked with organic eggs, Minnesota-made honey, kombucha, hot sauces, and fresh-ground Peace Coffee.
As early as 2014, McQuirter installed one of Minneapolis’ first EV charging stations — at a time when demand was still uncertain. “I believed it could be a smart business decision,” he wrote in a 2023 op-ed for the Minnesota Reformer.
That $100,000 investment paid off, not just financially, but in setting a standard for environmental leadership. By 2015, 36 Lyn ran entirely on wind energy, thanks to a partnership with Xcel Energy. The store also upgraded to energy-efficient LED canopy lighting and has continued expanding its electric vehicle infrastructure.
“We want to be part of a more sustainable Minneapolis,” McQuirter said. “Not just react to it.”
It’s not just the energy that’s local. More than 20% of the store’s inventory is sourced from small producers across Minnesota.
“You can get your gas and grab something handmade by someone in your city, and that’s powerful,” said local artist Jameel W., who attended the anniversary block party. “I come here because they support us. That’s rare.”
The store’s evolution has drawn national attention. McQuirter has been featured in Kiplinger, named to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s “Fast 50,” and serves on national boards including the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and Conexxus.
His voice is increasingly sought in national retail advocacy, particularly around equity, hiring and diversity.
Yet 36 Lyn’s success hasn’t come at the cost of community — quite the opposite. McQuirter is a past Volunteer of the Year for the Lyndale Neighborhood Association and a longtime supporter of Joyce Food Shelf, Our Streets Minneapolis, and Soo Visual Arts Center.
“Representing the good of retail and the good of the neighborhood in a respectable way” has been his guiding mantra.
Peace Coffee’s blog calls 36 Lyn “an independently owned, innovative convenience store” with a heart. Customers echo that.
“You walk in, and they know your name. That matters,” said local resident Marcus P. during Sunday’s celebration. “There’s a vibe here that’s clean, respectful, affirming.”
That culture extends to the staff as well. Since 2017, McQuirter has paid employees about $4 more per hour than the national average for convenience store jobs. He has instilled core values of cleanliness, friendliness and professionalism that are evident in the store’s spotless counters and consistent customer service.
Two decades in, 36 Lyn represents what’s possible when commerce, conscience and community align. It’s an independent, values-driven business that centers people and place. It’s an environmental trailblazer. It’s a workplace with integrity.
And as of this weekend, it’s officially a 20-year neighborhood landmark.
As McQuirter looked out on the crowd — families dancing, vendors smiling, neighbors reconnecting — one could say: This is what it looks like when a corner store becomes a cornerstone.
