March 2023 by Joe Kopacz
I've come to like Big 10 Mart based on my previous experiences at a few of their locations. The staff have been really friendly each time, each of the locations have been clean throughout, and I've found my favorite snack and beverage at each one I've visited. I needed much the same when I stopped at this particular Big 10 Mart as I drove home from work. I just couldn't make it all the way without stopping for a quick snack and a Gatorade Zero first.This Big 10 Mart is showing a little bit of age on the outside. The Big 10 Mart sign is well lit and working and most of the building retains its textured cement appearance, but some of this textured facade has worn away, revealing the concrete masonry wall behind. It's all fine - not everywhere is brand new. More importantly, the exterior is well kept up and clean.The interior can be similarly described - a little worn but otherwise clean. A greyish 6-inch square ceramic tile covers the floor, with a 2x4 foot drop ceiling and florescent lights covering the overhead. The walls are painted different neutral colors throughout - brown, green, and yellow. There's rows of shelves with different snacks through the center of the store, rows of coolers around the periphery with a variety of chilled beverages, a coffee station, and other various things one would expect in a gas station convenience store. It's all familiar at once.I located my Gatorade Zero and cheese and peanut butter crackers and brought them to the attendant at the register. Payment was easy - I used my Google Pay through my phone, thanked the gentleman, and left the store.I'm not in East Moline terribly frequently, so I wouldn't expect to be back here any time soon. If I were to return though, I wouldn't hesitate to stop by for a beverage and snack again. As stated before, it's clean, they have the snacks I like, and it's conveniently located off 13th Street. Thanks, Big 10 Mart!
