Andy Sehremelis Q&A: Development, Operations and the Future of Fuel Retail

By Andy Sehremelis · October 27, 2026

Andy Sehremelis founded Parkcrest Construction in Chino in 1992. A licensed real estate broker and Southern California commercial builder and operator, he has developed drive-thru restaurants, gas stations, express car washes and retail centers across Southern California, and he owns the Archibald's restaurant brand. He has also owned and operated gas stations and express car washes, and he is CEO of Delphi Energy. The following Q&A covers site selection, operations and the direction of fuel and convenience retail.

You hold a real estate broker license. How does combining a real estate view with a construction view affect underwriting?

"A broker looks at value, demand and tenant fit. A contractor looks at grading, site work and constructability. I evaluate both at the same time. A parcel that prices well but has poor ingress and egress is not a good site, and I would rather identify that before acquisition than during construction."

Restaurants, gas stations, express car washes and retail centers. What do these property types share?

"Each one serves a customer arriving by car with a specific need. Their performance depends on access, parking and on-site circulation. When those fundamentals are right, the operator has a sound platform. When they are wrong, strong pricing or a strong brand rarely compensates."

What has owning Archibald's taught him as a developer?

"Operating a restaurant shows you how design decisions affect the business every day: drive-thru capacity, parking at peak hours, maintenance costs. I apply that to every property I develop, including those I don't operate."

What is assessed first when evaluating a potential site?

"Approach and access: which direction the traffic comes from at different times of day, whether drivers can see the site in time to turn, and how easily they can exit. Then I look at the trade area, who already lives and shops there, and which services it lacks."

How should entitlement and neighboring properties be approached?

"Neighbors are part of every project. In Lakewood we built an express car wash with homes on the next lot over, and that shaped the design. A project that fits its surroundings moves through review more predictably and operates better once it opens."

What role does property management play in the business?

"Management is where the original assumptions are tested. Responsive service keeps tenants in place and renewals high, and tenant performance tells you what a market will support. That information goes straight into the next acquisition."

How did owning and operating gas stations lead to Delphi Energy?

"Owning and operating gas stations is why I lead Delphi Energy. As an owner, you see what drivers need every day, and you see those needs change. Delphi Energy is where I apply that operating experience to the broader energy picture."

Where is gasoline heading?

"Gasoline will remain a significant part of how Southern California drives for a long time, but the vehicle mix is changing. Hybrids, electric vehicles and other alternative energy systems are a growing part of the conversation, and through Delphi Energy I follow those trends closely. No one can state the exact pace of that change with confidence. The more useful question is how customer needs will evolve and how businesses can continue to serve them."

How should operators of gas stations and express car washes plan for changing demand?

"Customer behavior changes faster than buildings do. What a driver expects from a stop today may differ in ten years, whether that is speed, convenience or the services offered. A gas station or express car wash designed with flexibility can adapt. One designed for a single way of doing business is harder to reposition."