Ernie Giannecchini is doing more than helping fill gas tanks, he’s also fueling the holiday spirit in his community. While on the phone to PEOPLE, he’s working the counter and getting verbal and physical high-fives from his customers, thanking him for helping them out during the holidays. “I just decided to try to lower my prices as low as I could in the spirit of gratitude for all my loyal customers of the last 45 years,” says Giannecchini, 76.
“I’ve had customers throughout the year saying thank you, up to that customer who was here just a few minutes ago.” Related: Located in the Central Valley farmlands, about the midpoint between Sacramento and San Francisco, his customers often commute between the larger cities for work. A few coins difference between Ernie’s prices and corporate gas stations make a big impact on their bottom line.
“The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of peace and giving and positive thinking,” Giannecchini says. “And when we can do that, that's what it's all about. You see smiles on kids' faces, it is great to see them happy.
” He says he used to play Santa every Christmas “until I didn't need a pillow anymore to play Santa,” he says with a jolly chuckle. “I also played Santa for family and friends for their kids. It was always fun to see their reaction.
And in a sense, I see the same reaction right now by somewhat playing Santa," he adds. The popular Ernie’s Country Store has been known for generations as the place to .
