Vintage 1940s Texaco Station Revitalized as Bench Racers Food Truck Park and Bar

in St. Charles’ Frenchtown District  

ST. CHARLES, MO — The St. Charles Regional Chamber hosted a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony June 4, 2026, to mark the official grand opening of Bench Racers, an innovative food truck park, gathering space, and bar. Located at 1801 North Second Street, the new venue serves as a vibrant northern bookend to the historic Frenchtown District.  

The site, a nearly one-acre property positioned near the Katy Trail, breathed new life into a historic 1940s-era Texaco gas station that had sat vacant and declining for years. Local residents and co-owners Andy Stark and Stephanie Lai purchased the property in late 2023, embarking on a meticulous, multi-year renovation to transform the contributing historic structure into a family-friendly, dog-friendly community hub.  

"What started as just a family project to renovate an old Texaco gas station turned into an expanded business idea as a bookend to the historic Frenchtown area," said co-owner Andy Stark. "The name Bench Racers comes from our family's love of cars and racing, in hopes the new event space will also become a gathering spot for automotive events. The space will host a rotating lineup of food trucks, barbecue, and a beverage bar inside the gas station."  

The restored 1,600-square-foot garage building now features an indoor beverage bar and an permanent Sugarfire Smoke House BBQ outpost. Outside, the park offers expansive green space, a live music stage behind the garage, a big-screen TV for sports and movies, and extensive outdoor picnic seating designed to host classic car meetups and community gatherings.  

The historic station originally operated as a Texaco service plaza from the 1940s through the 1970s before being utilized by the Moore Oil Company for office space and oil storage. Over the last two years, the owners worked closely with local contractors, regional car clubs, and even Lindenwood University students—who helped design the brand logo and merchandise—to ensure the development remained deeply rooted in the local community.  

"We're maintaining the surrounding green space while giving the community a place to enjoy community events and even sports or movies on a big-screen TV," added co-owner Stephanie Lai. "We hope to be a place to slow down, tell stories, and make new memories, especially including furry friends."

Bench Racers is now fully open to the public. For information on the daily rotating food truck schedule, upcoming automotive events, or live music lineups, follow @benchracers on Facebook and @benchracers.stc on Instagram.