CRESTVIEW — The new kid on the block and the city's largest petrol retailer got into a struggle over gas prices at the end of the week and Crestview's drivers were the winners.
See photos of Crestview's gas war>>
“My daughter texted me that their gas was $1.99,” resident Sandra Burch said while filling her van Friday morning. “When I got to town I saw Tom Thumb had it, too.”
“I never thought I'd see gas under $2,” resident James Lloyd said while filling up at Tom Thumb. “Not at all; nowhere around here.”
Tom Thumb's gas prices never dipped below $2.02 per gallon in Northern Okaloosa County during the low gas prices earlier this year, but when the new CEFCO station opened at State Road 85 and Stillwell Boulevard Thursday and advertised $2.22 gas, the competition began.
By Thursday evening prices at CEFCO, the Tom Thumb across the street and the Tom Thumb by Winn-Dixie advertised $1.99 gas. By Friday morning, all Tom Thumb stores in the Crestview area as well as Laurel Hill were at $1.99.
By 10 a.m. Laurel Hill's price was back to the regular $2.62 a gallon.
“I thought with $1.99 gas, who wouldn't want to fill up,” West Virginia resident Tim Hopkins said while passing through Crestview from the beach and filling up at CEFCO.
Resident Mary Counterman looked over the new store, sniffed the aroma of hotdogs, sausages and taquitos turning on the grill, and checked out the yogurt flavors at the Fresh Yo bar.
“Real nice,” she said. “They have different food than Tom Thumb. It gives us a choice.”
“We're tickled to be here,” CEFCO district manager Ken Jackson said as he and other company officials observed the Crestview store's first full day in business.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
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Editor's Note: A previous version of this story included quotes attributed to a Tom Thumb employee. We removed the quotes at the source's request. She believed she was having a casual, friendly conversation. Newsroom policy requires reporters to identify themselves as members of the press before quoting sources.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New gas station launches gas war with established rival