The dilapidated 1930s Standard Oil gas station was in the perfect spot - a corner not far from the Missouri Botanical Garden, a medical school and a beautiful park.

That was enough to catch Ben Poremba's eye. In November 2012, he decided to turn the vacant St. Louis gas station into a wine bar and eatery, Olio.

"It was a part of town that was just run down, and it was sandwiched between two highways," said Poremba, the chef-owner of Olio. "It was a bad neighborhood, but we were right there on the corner."

Poremba isn't alone. Around the United States, old gas stations have inspired restaurateurs to launch businesses and invest in communities.

But why serve food where they used to service cars? It turns out that those old filling stations are sitting on prime real estate for restaurants and bars.

Read - Old gas stations come back to life as trendy restaurants