I admit I did not go inside. This was a gas and go stop for me. The parking lot and gas pump area…read morewas clean. The pumps worked great, requires you to enter your zip code and wants a 'yes' or 'no' response for the receipt request. Prices were cheaper than the Marathon across the street. Easy in and out and right next to the highway!

The number of crimes that are committed in the name of breakfast are legion. We are often willing…read moreaccomplices, and from time to time I am guilty as charged. Such was the case recently after a Road Gig of my band in the charming Hamlet of Edwardsville, Ill. Wife accompanied me on this one, and brought along our smallest, most fragile beloved Chihuahua, Minnie. We got an early start, but Our diminutive, furry passenger precluded a restaurant stop for breakfast. As McDonalds is often a workaday choice during the week (McD's was the only choice near for drive-through food), I looked for an...alternative. We refueled at the Circle K which is the subject of this post. (Please don't let the one-star rating reflect an indication of the condition/service of this Circle K as a pit stop. The store is clean, well stocked and as pleasant as a service station as can be. I'll explain why the one-star was thrown.) I filled up the Whale, and went inside the store to get a bottle of Diet Pepsi, a small cup of water for the puppy, and find something to shove down our throats tiding us over the 3 hour ride home. The Pepsi and water were easy. Wife asked for a glazed donut, also easy. I did a few aisle laps in a futile attempt to find something edible. The idiocy here, was that I was half expecting to find something different on each lap. What the hell was I expecting, other than the Chips, candy bars, overpriced sundries and cheap wine that is the usual truck of the convenience store. And isn't it funny, the later in the day, the more appetizing that stuff is, and if it's REALLY late, it's a goddamned gourmet buffet. But at 9 in the morning, your eyes define truth at a higher definition-it's all junk, all the time. Cheetos and KitKats do not a fine breakfast make. Fine and noble, but what sort of cosmic buggery caused me to take a pass on the known shite of the cellophane bags, and look with interest on the roller-grill stuff opposite the cashier? A cosmic distress signal? Was the recreational medication I consumed in the 70's calling a due marker? In the past, given the choice, I would have broken the seal on a bottle of Quaker State 10w40 and guzzled it down instead of choosing from the hardened, ultra-processed, looks-like-it-was-2-weeks-old sausages, etc, that wer spinning on those rollers. Yet here I was, reaching for the tongs and taking a pair of things with the umbrella brand name of "Torpedoes" from the rollers. One with what looked like a HotDog inside, and another which purported to be an "Egg Roll". What had led me there was a sign that said "2 for $3". I slipped each into the provided, branded paper sleeve and turned, zombie-like toward the cashier. I'm an unreconstructed foodie, and Wife is bewildered at my predilection for Anchovies, Stinky cheese, Innards, and the rest of the Fear-Factor food groups; but as I took my place behind the wheel and tucked into the Torpedoes, she looked on me with a gaze that was somewhere between pity and horror. For those who have never had the temerity or courage to sample a "Torpedo", it is a hard type of shell, with a filling or meat(ish) object inside. The shell is close to an egg roll, if an eggroll had a belligerent attitude, and was determined not be eaten. The texture is closer to a Cannoli than a trad eggroll skin. It did have a pleasant crunch, but the Torpedo folks must have blown their development wad on texture, as the skin had no discernible flavor. The "EggRoll's" filling was akin to the filling you find in the bags of frozen finger-food eggrolls at the supermarket. Cabbage-y with hints of white pepper. It was the barest tick above "awful". I can tolerate a shitty eggroll at a low-budget party, when I have a cocktail in hand, but not at 9 in the morning, when I haven't even had a decent cup of coffee yet. The "EggRoll", however was a LeBernadin Amuse-Bouche compared to the Sausage Torpedo. Not much escapes me. I've had it all. Bugs, Balls, Cheeses riddled with mold, fermented fish that cats would turn their noses up to and on and on. But I wept for whatever animal gave their all to produce the disgusting capsule contained inside the second "Torpedo" on my virtual plate that morning. Then again, there might have not been any "meat" in that tube at all. I've had those little canned "cocktail sausages" you've seen at the supermarket, but dared never buy or try. Those were better than the "Torpedo" HotDog. I've had the bulk, no-name "Dogs" you see off to the side of the name-brand Franks at the store. You know, the ones you joke about being "Mystery Meat". Those are better. I have now found my limit. I now know where I will not tread. These items were not spoiled or prepared wrong. they were just intrinsically awful. I can point to dinners at Galatoires in New Orleans, BBQ in Kansas City, and my Wife's Filet Mignons as some of the best stuff I've ever eaten. And now I know exactly where, when and what the WORST food I've ever had was... Tornadoes

Produce department outshines any of the other grocery stores in the area. (Used to go to Dierbergs,…read morebut no more.). Also, want to commend friendly and helpful staff. They always make my shopping experience a joy.

Long checkout lines ALL the time. Now prices aren't any cheaper than Dierbergs. I'm done with this…read moreplace.

I love this store. It is so worth the drive from my home in Godfrey…read more The produce department, just blows my mind. The variety and freshness of all the vegetables and fruits is huge. I can find unique items that you do not see at other grocers. I am wanting to eat healthier this year and this department is helping me achieve that goal. Another department that I enjoy is the, Deli and Prepared Foods. I have ordered from the prepared foods department for many of my parties. It makes life so much easier and everyone loves the appetizers. The butcher/meat department is as impressive as the produce. Also, the Dierbergs label is just as good as a name brand and it helps you save money on your total bill. If you're a drinker, the liquor department is a mini liquor store located inside a grocery store. The variety of wine and beer is huge. If you over drink and do something stupid, you can use Dierbergs florist to help get yourself out of trouble. The staff on the floor are helpful when I cannot find what I am looking for and the cashiers are friendly and move the lines quickly. Reminder: The store is in Edwardsville, so take your own bags, otherwise you'll be paying 10¢ a bag.

"Stick to the knitting" is the phrase that comes to mind. I believe it's a chapter title in an old…read morebook by Peters & Waterman called "In Search of Excellence." It summarizes their advice to businesses that have diversified so much that they've diminished the value they once provided in their most basic services. Here's why the phrase comes to mind in reference to D-Edwardsville. Years ago when it opened, it became my first-choice grocer, a moderately expensive but close-to-home alternative to specialty grocers in St. Louis. We could find nearly everything we really needed there, including gluten-free items. I was particularly happy that the fish counter offered fresh and previously frozen items that were as good as those I picked up 30 - 40 miles away. In recent months, I've been less enthused to shop at D-Edwardsville. Whereas the traffic flow of the east end used to draw attention of the shopper toward produce, deli, fish, and meat, now attention is drawn just as much toward the prominent placement of an expanded and generally high-priced wine-liquor section. The produce selection rarely seems as good as Schnuck's or Walmart. And the fish counter that I used to love is now a place I avoid, especially after some bad fish purchased during the yearend holidays. So bad that citrus juice and even alcohol rinse (with sake) could not save it. I imagine Edwardsville grocery competition is stiff these days, and D has a difficult challenge retaining market share and making a profit. I sympathize with the dilemma, but from my perspective, more alcohol or a phone app with coupons won't make much of a difference. In my opinion, flawed as it may be, I'll be muttering quietly as I roll my cart out the door, "Stick to the knitting.

It's a typical 7-Eleven though it looks old. This location probably gets a lot of traffic. Eight…read morePhillips 66 gas pumps outside and the usual convenience store items inside. Lots of snacks and drinks and a fair selection of warmed up foods like pizza, wings, fried chicken, dogs, and taquitos.

I really enjoy coming into a store with friendly staff. The store is clean and I feel safe. I have…read morecome to really care about the owners.

Nice place. Hard to get into but the staff was very friendly. Would come again. I found this place…read moreto be clean. Service was nice.

The girls here are always super nice and my order is either waiting to be picked up or made in a…read moretimely manner. The loaded toast, bowls and smoothies are always crafter to perfection and taste so good! The store is always clean and stocked.

I love smoothie king and this is such a nice smoothie king location! It doesn't have a drive…read morethrough but it's so nice going inside to order from the staff. They are always so nice and so helpful. Service is always quick and the inside is super clean. The parking lot usually has plenty of options and you can order ahead online if you don't want to wait.

Incredibly quick service and polite employees. Both the indoor and drive thru line went quick…read more Great experience!

This spot is a convenient stop on my way to California, especially since it shares a lot with the…read moretruck stop--making parking and access easy. It always seems busy enough to keep orders moving quickly. The staff is mostly young, and unlike many places, they're still friendly and polite, which adds to the experience. Maybe it's a "Troy" thing, but I'm not sure. The addition of Baskin-Robbins ice cream is a nice touch. If I decide to cheat on my diet, their vanilla ice cream is my go-to--it's so good that resisting it is the real challenge. The restaurant is always clean. Even though I usually stay for a maximum of 30 minutes, I consistently see employees cleaning both inside and outside, showing that this location is well-managed. There's plenty of seating, and the music isn't too loud, making it a comfortable and enjoyable place to stop. I'm giving this place 4 stars only because they're not open 24 hours anymore. They now close around 10 PM, but I think they should go back to their 24-hour schedule--it would make them an even better option for late-night travelers like myself.

Nice gas station. They did not have what I was looking for but the staff was friendly and answered…read moremy questions..