As history goes, the first car was created and it was good. A few days later, it broke down, that was bad. This led, of course, to the creation of the first mechanic.

As automobiles became more complex, the need for mechanics grew, as did the trend to become car-savvy. In the 1940s and 1950s, most American boys grew up tinkering with automobiles. As time passed, it was a rite of passage for generations that followed.

As the need for mechanical work soared, so did the growth of the service station. Service gas stations in Monroe and Sanford played an integral role for locals and travelers. Every station had a local mechanic who could repair anything - from replacing a radiator to refilling air in a tire. Monroe Corner was the home of several service stations over the years. It had one of the most popular pit stops and service areas in the Central Florida area from 1910 to the 1950s.

Sanford was also regarded as “the gas station" for all of Central Florida. Every major oil company housed tank and distribution facilities in Sanford. Notables such as Standard, Gulf, Sunoco, Phillips, Cities Service and Pure Oil had stations off Lake Monroe. Initially, big barges brought oil and gasoline down river from Jacksonville, and later, both train and barges were used. Carl Rabun, who lived on the Route 46 property in the 1940s, was the superintendent for the Standard Oil Company. There were several pumping docks in Sanford, where barges unloaded through pipelines to huge storage tanks. Trucks hauled gas and oil to service stations all over Central Florida and along the east coast. The first tankers were not tractor-trailers, but rather, drawn by mules. To witness mules hauling gasoline and oil to filling stations for motor car and tractor use must have been an ironical sight. Until the 1950s, Sanford was the motherland of oil distribution – Central Florida.

The Garage Bar at Route 46® not only celebrates the craftsmanship of automobiles and mechanic culture, while accelerating you into the 21st century. We also tip our hat to Sanford and Monroe in recognition of what it has done for the service garage as we know it today. So, if you’re up for a wild and crazy ride, join us at Garage Bar!