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Search Menu Home Today's Events Photo Galleries Video Weather Archive Autos Classifieds Jobs Limelight Deals Real Estate About Sign Up for Alerts Full Site Reset Password Login More Images Show Caption Hide Caption Modifications are made to the former Texaco station on Lithia Way to make way for a growler bar, expected to open in the summer. Photo by John Darling --> Close Modifications are made to the former Texaco station on Lithia Way to make way for a growler bar, expected to open in the summer. Photo by John Darling BUSINESS 'Fill'er up' will mean with beer, not gas By John Darling For the Tidings May 10, 2015 - 4:22 PM The decades-old Lithia Way Texaco is being torn out to make way for a different kind of filling station — a growler bar where owner Butch Price promises to have all the valley’s beers, up to 65 custom brews, on tap. A "growler" is a glass jug that carries approximately a half-gallon of beer.  Price will keep the cinder block building and turn it into a modern, tasteful-looking beer stop where you may fill your growlers or sit and have a sip at tables, inside or out. The outside seating will be around fire pits for chilly off-season evenings. The two large doors will be turned into glass, with views south, he says, toward the fire pit.  The locale successfully underwent half a year of toxin testing by the Department of Environmental Quality, he notes.  “They tested the living tar out of it, drilling all over the property, and finally gave us a green light to fill the old tanks with cement slurry,” he says.  The station now undergoes review by the city Historic Commission, which will pass on his proposed re-do of the very utilitarian concrete block structure.  Workers last week were tearing out signs, pumps and all the infrastructure of a gas station, making way for on-site parking and outdoor beer quaffing. This is familiar work to Price, a Grants Pass resident who has built many gas stations and all the Dutch Brothers drive-ups around the valley.  “I’ll have a complete sampling of what’s out there,” he says. “There are so many breweries in the valley now and that’s why I’m doing this. All their beers will be available here. As far as I know, this is the first growler station in Ashland. It’s not going to be a bar; it’s a growler station. There will be some food and coffee also.”  Price takes over the lease May 20 from owner Hays Oil. He said it should be open about July. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected] .   Popular Today 'Fill'er up' will mean with beer, not gas School sending help to Nepal Rising from the ashes Police train to avoid LGBTQ bias Good film making is all about the storytelling Reader Reaction © Copyright Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications | Full Site