April & May 2019

Life At Exit
Zero Filling
Station?
It’s A Gas.
Nearly one year after opening an
ambitious (crazy?) conglomeration on
the island, Exit Zero owner Jack Wright
dishes about what he’s learned.
photography suzanne kulperger
Here at Exit Zero, we’re big cheerleaders for local businesses.
Whether they’re brand new, celebrating a special anniversary,
or just because we want to check in to see how they’re doing,
we’re quick to publish stories on them. We HAVEN’T, however,
been quick to publish a story on ourselves, even though, if I do
say so myself, the opening of Exit Zero Filling Station last August
was a pretty big deal. It’s not often you get to see a gas station, a
restaurant, a retail store and a publishing company all rolled into
one. (And there’s probably a very good reason for that.) But, hey,
that’s us! In the big charcoal metal building on Sunset Boulevard
that a lot of people dig, and a few, well... it’s too industrial for some
people’s tastes.
Matters took an even more interesting turn earlier this year
when Exit Zero Filling Station proudly took hold of the first-ever
restaurant liquor license awarded in West Cape May.
So I thought I would bring readers up to date with everything
that’s been going on here. It hasn’t been easy. Oh no, not one little
bit. Anyone who has run a restaurant will tell you so. Anyone who’s
run a gas station will tell you so. Anyone who still publishes print
magazines in this internet-infested age will tell you so.
Excuse my self-indulgence while I share my experiences and
thoughts (in a very random manner) from our first year — because
who else is going to ask me?
exit zero 38 april-may