Friday night, the bleachers are empty, but the night isn’t done. For Rocklin High School (RHS) students, Maverik has become the real Friday night destination.

Since opening its Rocklin location in September 2024, the Utah-based gas station chain, Maverik, has become more than a place to fill up a tank. With only eight locations in California, the new store turned into a local hot-spot for cheap drinks, creative soda mixes, and a hangout spot. For many students, Maverik has become the go to spot for cheap sodas.

“At Maverik, if you get a large drink, it’s only 90 cents,” senior Peyton Lively said. “You can get seven Maverik [drinks] for the price of one Starbucks [drink].”

But the real draw is the drink fountain. Maverik offers dozens of soda and slushy flavors with customizable syrups, letting students make their own “dirty sodas.” RHS senior Evan Keeney’s favorite order is a “lemonade with coconut raspberry and peach syrup.”

Branded as “Adventure’s First Stop,” the Rocklin Maverik feels more like “a supermarket plus a gas station,” Keeney said. Wide aisles are lined with everything from trail mix to hot pizzas, offering far more than the typical convenience store.

“It’s just such a good atmosphere,” Lively said. “They even won an award for cleanest bathrooms.”

Students say it’s the combination of size, variety, and cleanliness that sets Maverik apart. Whether it’s after a football game or just a late-night hangout, students know where they’ll find cheap drinks, good food, and maybe even a few familiar faces.