Southview “66” celebrates milestone

By Mark Gallagher | Contributor | June 2026

On June 20, Southview “66” Servicenter will celebrate 50 years of serving the residents of South St. Paul and the surrounding communities. Owner Steve Mankowski said he has built his business on providing quality service and giving back to the community in numerous ways, including mentoring and leadership positions with the Kaposia Days and On the Road Again celebrations. The full-service gas station specializes in general service work such as oil changes, brakes, tune-ups and diagnostics.

“I don’t know if it is part of my success/survivor mentality but mentoring young men who work at the Southview “66” Servicenter is just something I like to do,” said Mankowski. “I’m happy when the people I mentor become successful. Mainly, the point is just to make them much better than the situation where they find themselves. I started mentoring young men because I was bullied in grade school, and it bothered me quite a bit, so I have an idea of how people feel when they are bullied.”

Mankowski attributes his success, business acumen and longevity to his work ethic and determination.

“My philosophy is that you just keep trying and trying, and if you fail, just pick yourself up and get
going,” he said. “Nobody really fails in life – it’s about what you want to do and what you want to be in life.”

He also gives credit to his many loyal customers and the community at large.

“The people have been great, and I am very involved in the community. I feel that it is important that if you have a business, you need to be involved in the community. I have had a lot of rewards that I could have never imagined. I was very quiet in high school. Hardly anybody knew me at all. Now many people know me.”

When asked about the awards he received he said, “There is one award I got from the 560th Airborne Infantry Division. They only give out two awards per year in the entire country, and I was honored to be their second choice. They gave me a certificate of appreciation, and that was really quite an honor for me. I was really choked up about that.” Mankowski never served in the military but has supported military organizations, such as Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, which helps families that have a son or daughter in the military and the former South St. Paul VFW. He also received an award for his involvement with the Minneapolis Aquatennial.

“The most important award was the Humanitarian of the Year Award I received in 2018 from Fort Campbell, Kentucky,” he said. “I worked hard and wasn’t even aware of the award. Receiving that award was like winning the Emmy for me. It was a great honor.”

The station dates to 1970 when Mankowski and three other investors opened a Phillips 66 franchise. Mankowski was only 17 and was the youngest Phillips Petroleum dealer ever at that time. Six years later he became the sole owner.

“In 1976, they made me an offer and I bought out the other three investors,” he said. “I’d been working here during high school part time, and I really like people, so I said, ‘Well, I’ll give it a shot.’ When I went independent, the only thing I had to do was change Southview 66 to Southview “66” Servicenter. I purposely spelled Service Center wrong with only one ‘C’ not two.

“I appreciate South St. Paul and am blessed to be able to give back to this wonderful community,” he added. “I’ve helped grandma and grandpa, mom and dad, and the kids. South St. Paul is a very close-knit community.”

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