Tamaqua’s final full-service gas station will close on the last day of 2020 after 70 years in business.

Jack Sakusky of J & J Sunoco, 20-28 Center St., will lock the doors for good at the end of the day Thursday.

Hardworking Sakusky is in his 60s and has spent most of his life at the busy operation.

Still, one gets the feeling that, in a perfect world, he’d prefer to continue to pump gas and work on cars. It’s what he knows and is comfortable with.

And his gas station has become a local landmark. Just about everyone knows where the Sunoco station is located.

“There has been a Sunoco station here since 1950,” he said Tuesday. “Lee Shafer across the street has photos from the ‘55 flood and this place shows up in those pictures.”

Sakusky said the gas station was previously operated by Harold Wallaesa. It operated as Wally’s Service Inc. or “Harry’s” in earlier years.

Brian Wallaesa said the gas station was in the Wallaesa family for many years.

“Harold Wallaesa was operator from 1955 to 1985. My father Jan was owner/operator from 1985 to 1995.”

Employee Wally Schlosser has been with the place long enough to be part of the changes.

“Yes, this has been here a long time and I’ve been here for 49 years,” Schlosser said on Monday as he jockeyed between cars parked inside the service bays and those pulling up to gas pumps.

All through the years, J & J Sunoco has been a bustling business at a prime location, just steps away from the Five Points intersection.

But business has its demands and there comes a time when you need to weigh your options.

“It’s the government regulations. They put the small guy out of business. It’s hard for the mom-and-pops,” Sakusky said.

Compliance issues are sometimes too much of a hurdle for the little guy, forcing him to come up with major dollars to make improvements and mandated upgrades.

It forces many shops to close, despite the reality that customers seem to prefer the personal touch of a small-town, full-service gas station. In fact, J & J’s final week is proof of it.

As rumors of the gas station’s closing spread by word of mouth, customers converged on the place.

“We’re just swamped,” said Sakusky.

“I just want to finish up what I have in the garage and then spend the final day pumping gas.”

Wife Mary Ann Potichko-Sakusky issued a statement Tuesday afternoon: “After 45 years, the time has unfortunately come to take a step back and relax. We want to thank all of our loyal customers for their years of allowing us to take care of them We are definitely going to miss each and every one of you. God bless you all!”

Sakusky said he sold the property and it’ll be developed into something new.

“It’ll be a mini mart and gas station and they’ll even have slot machines.”

Times are changing, which will allow Sakusky an opportunity to shift gears and enjoy a happy retirement with his wife and decades of memories. But, as always, changes can be bittersweet.

“I’m going to miss this place.”