Photo of the Day: Shell Station Making a Comeback

Elk Grove Patch Twitter follower @CalvineStorage passed along this photo of a banner at the intersection of Elk Grove Blvd and Elk Grove Florin Road, where a Shell gas station and auto body shop is being demolished and rebuilt after it was destroyed by fire.

It sounded just like the kind of joke you'd hear from friendly station owner Dale Miles, who we interviewed on the scene of the fire in March.

Miles has owned the property for 23 years. He told us Thursday the fire has already cost him about $1.3 million (covered so far by insurance)—and the tab is rising, since he plans to rebuild bigger and better.

"We're going to go for a little bit bigger store and four service bays rather than three," he said.

The station will also have a more modern design, he said. "We want to make it a nice gateway into the Old Town."

Demolition could be complete as early as Friday, he said, but the rebuilding process depends on getting approval from planning authorities.

Oh, and while there will be a new look, don't hold your breath for any fancy touches, like beer or wine sales.

"We're an old-fashioned Shell service station," he said.