History of Clark Gas & Oil
Located in downtown Stuart, VA, Clark Gas & Oil, Inc. had its early beginnings in 1928 from a partnership of three brothers, E. Lyle Clark, J. Myron Clark, and W. Blair Clark, Sr. They were commission agents for Standard Oil Company of New Jersey and sold the Esso brand of petroleum products. In the early years, Clark would deliver to homes and country stores throughout Patrick County. Lamp oil (kerosene) would be carried in the stores in five-gallon cans, poured into a kerosene tank, and dispensed through a hand pump into gallon cans. Esso gasoline was delivered to fuel the growing automobile population.
In 1980, Clark bought Harmon Oil Company of Floyd, VA and expanded its service area to Floyd and adjoining counties. Always looking for an opportunity to better meet the customer's needs, Clark opened its first E-Z Stop Convenience Store in a completely remodeled two bay Exxon Service Station in Floyd, VA in 1981. Over the years other E-Z Stop Stores followed in Stuart in 1986, Ridgeway in 1987, the first store in Hillsville in 1989, Wytheville in 1998, the second Hillsville in 1994, and Martinsville in 1996. In addition, two Dairy Queens have been added to compliment the E-Z Stop Store in selected locations and to offer our customers additional food and treat selections.
Fuel delivery and service was again expanded in 1994 to include Hillsville and Carroll County. In late 1997, Clark began propane service and selling LP heating products in Floyd, Patrick, Carroll Counties and adjoining areas. During the summers of 1998 and 1999, additional propane bulk storage was added to better service our growing customer family. The goal of Clark Gas & Oil Company, Inc. and our E-Z Stop Stores and Dairy Queen our goal has always been to provide a friendly, clean, convenient and well merchandised store or heating showroom and professionally managed to furnish our customers with quality products and services in a prompt and efficient manner that always meets or exceeds our customers' expectations.
Clark also believes that its most important resource is its employees and encourages their involvement in the communities that we serve. For the past several years Clark Gas & Oil/E-Z Stop Stores/Dairy Queen have been active fundraisers and contributors to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Children's Miracle Network, and the proud sponsor with ExxonMobil and Virginia Tech of the Exxon Kids in College Program for students from Drewy Mason Elementary School, Floyd County High School, and Patrick County High School.
Second generation William B. Clark, Jr. and third generation J. Blair Clark help operate the business now. Currently Clark Gas & Oil owns and operates seven convenience stores and two Dairy Queens as well as three bulk plants and two heating showrooms. Clark serves customer's homes, farms, and businesses, and industry with ExxonMobil oil heat (heating oil and kerosene), diesel fuel, gasoline, and propane in Patrick, Floyd, Carroll, Henry, and Montgomery Counties in Virginia and bordering areas of Stokes and Surry Counties in North Carolina.