Oliver's is still a happening place

The happening place these days in Clipper Gap is Oliver's, a local gas station-coffee shop right on historic U.S. Route 40, that has served local clientele for more than half a century. Actually it may be the only business in Clipper Gap, but still, it's a lively spot every morning, especially on Saturdays. "This is a place to solve the world's problems before we start our day," said Jack Cole, owner of a recently rebuilt '46 Chevy truck. Meadow Vista historian George Lay and his group of morning juice drinkers and coffee conversationalists recently migrated from the closed Talk of the Town in Meadow Vista to Oliver's for their daily morning gatherings. Closed for many months after Judy Oliver died, Oliver's was spruced up within the past few months by new owner Denise Sinel. Sinel used to own Neighborhood Auto in Auburn. Lay remembers visiting this same store 50 years ago for soft drinks when he was just a kid. "Clarence Core was the first owner of this business," Lay said. "Some of my friends worked for Old Man Core." Cole, who is the second official owner of the '46 Chevy originally purchased at Jensen Chevrolet in Auburn, said his truck was Core's "best customer." Cole bought the vehicle in 2001 when it was missing most of its parts. It had no tires, no bed, no fenders and no grill, he explained.After six years of tender loving care, it's back up and running. Well, almost, it still needs a brake spring. "My first car was a '38 Chevy," Cole said. "I also bought a 1931 Model A for $50 and that was a high price. It took me a long time to scrounge up that kind of money." Oliver's customer Rick Sinclair remembers cars being priced lower."You could buy cars all day for $25 to $30," Sinclair said. In those days, Cole's gas station, in the very same location as the present-day Oliver's, was an Atlantic Richfield station. Today, Oliver's is unaffiliated with any particular oil company and offers many services, such as fuel, air, water, biscuits and gravy, coffee and beer.And also great conversation. Oliver's is the center for not-so-idle chatter over morning coffee. The eclectic group of men includes building contractors, a retired California Highway Patrol officer, a real estate investor and historian, a former "experimental machinist" for NASA who also happens to be an expert at rebuilding classic cars and trucks, a Tai Chi expert, avid skiers and snowboarders, just to name a few. "Denise and Robert make us feel so comfortable here," said former World War II Navy veteran and retired California Highway Patrol Officer Bob Pfeiffer, also known around Oliver's as Officer Bob. And the feeling is mutual. "This is not a job - just play time," Denise Sinel said. And her brother Robert Sinel, who manages the store, agrees. "I feel like I'm at home entertaining my guests. There's no stress. I'm don't even carry my cell phone." That is quite a change for the former Los Angeles courier dispatcher. "If I need something done, well, there's nothing this group can't do. The knowledge in this room is incredible. There's over 600 years of experience in that photo," said Robert Sinel, referring to the photo of the men with the '46 Chevy.Pfeiffer echoed those sentiments."You'd be amazed by the amount of talent among this group," Pfeiffer said. Pfeiffer transferred to the Gold Run Area Highway Patrol Office on Dec. 7, 1961, a particularly noteworthy day, since he worked in navigation on a small aircraft carrier in World War II. "I think I'm the oldest in the group," Pfeiffer said. "But that's OK. I love to just listen. I learn a lot from these guys."