EL PASO, Texas. -- In another addition to its portfolio, Western Refining Inc. has taken over the operation of seven convenience stores previously under the purview of Barnicle Enterprises, Yuma, Ariz.
Although no official announcement of the deal was available, the outgoing telephone message at Barnicle’s headquarters notes that “effective Nov. 20, we are no longer operating our seven Yuma locations.”
According to the recorded voice, and a report in the Yuma Sun, Barnicle a few weeks ago turned over operations of the seven Barney’s convenience stores to El Paso, Texas-based Western Refining. The stores will now fly the 76 gasoline brand flag and will operate under Western’s Giant Convenience Stores banner, the report said.
The newspaper report quoted Patrick Rook, president and CEO of Barnicle Enterprises Inc., as saying, “We’re leasing all the stores to [Western Refining].”
While he went on to say that business would continue as usual for the seven stores, merely with a new operator and a new brand, he also said that Western Refining “will offer a lot of benefit opportunities for our employees we couldn’t.”
Calls to Western Refining were not returned as of press time.
According to the report, Barnicle Enterprises purchased its first store in 1977. Rook said, “It’s been a long run in Yuma for the Barnicle family. It wasn’t an easy decision.”
Western Refining last month made a move to expand its refining operations by acquiring ownership interest in Northern Tier Energy LP from ACON Investments and TPG Capital. Northern Tier operates SuperAmerica stores and the SuperMom’s commissary. Northern Tier management will continue to operate the SuperAmerica stores, which are mainly in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
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