ST. JAMES, Mo. -- Retirement for its owner and modernization for its retail outlets are the reasons that Delano Oil Co. is selling its five Delano gas stations and Station Break convenience stores to Midwest Petroleum Corp. after 88 years in business.
As reported in a McLane/CSP Daily News Flash, Jay Delano, president of Delano Oil Co., made the decision to sell the business because he was getting close to retiring and believed it was a good time to do so, he told The Rolla Daily News.
His grandfather, also named Jay Delano, started the business in 1928 along Route 66 in St. James, and his father, Jonathan Delano, continued running the business. Current president Jay Delano’s son, also named Jonathan, who has been involved in the family business, is pursuing another career, the report said.
“This was really my dad’s baby,” Jonathan Delano said. “He was a detail person and he liked to solve problems.”
Delano Oil’s stations are in St. James, Crocker and Dixon, Mo., with two in Rolla, Mo. It once had 11 locations and a distribution business that sold automotive parts, tires and oil to car dealerships, but sold those portions of the business, said the report.
Delano said he expects the sale to close June 27, and customers may start seeing Delano signs come down and Midwest Petroleum signs go up.
On its Facebook page, Delano Station Break posted: "Delano Station Break will be closed on Monday, June 27, in preparation for a transition to ownership by Midwest Petroleum Co. All of us here at Delano want to sincerely thank all of our loyal customers for putting faith in us to provide your fuel and convenience needs. Our 88 years wouldn't have been possible without all of you. Big changes will be coming in the next several weeks and months, but we are certain that Midwest will be bringing positive change to all the communities we have served. Modernization is one thing that eluded us these last few years, and we are glad to finally be able to see it arrive. Finally, we can't sign off with out a sincere and heartfelt thank you to our intrepid managers and crew. Some have been with us for more that 25 years. Regardless of the length of time, all have been invaluable for running this company.Again, thanks all for everything."
St. Louis-based Midwest Petroleum, founded in 1946 and owned by Donald W. McNutt, operates more than 50 gas stations and convenience stores in Missouri and Illinois, along with dealer locations.
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