By C.J. Carnacchio
Leader Staff Writer
“After delivering 45 years of quality service, selling millions of gallons of gasoline and building a lifetime of fond memories, Ed Triest, owner of Ed’s Sunoco station, is calling it quits Dec. 17.
“I think it’s time for me to leave,” Triest said. “It’s not really a money-making deal anymore for a small dealer like me.””
Triest is selling the station, located at the corner of S. Washington (M-24) and Lincoln streets, to the Sun Corporation, which owns Sunoco.
“The company can offer so much more to the people in Oxford than I can now,” he said. “They have cash discounts. They have all kinds of things.”
“Stiff” competition from the growing number of gas stations to the north and south was a factor in Triest’s decision to retire.
Triest said the Sun Corporation can offer “more competitive” gasoline prices than he could as a small dealer. He noted the Sunoco station in Lake Orion, which is company owned, was 9 cents a gallon cheaper at the time of this interview.
“(Gas) prices are out of this world,” he said. “If I paid the high dollar on gas and (my competitors) drop (their price) 5 cents or even 2 cents, I couldn’t drop it because you can’t lose money. You can’t make money, you can’t meet your bills.
“The people of Oxford are probably going to benefit (from the sale),” Triest added.
Triest said he would have liked to pass the business on to his sons, Ed Jr. (Ted) and Brian, both of whom work at the station, but “there’s no future in it” and it’s “a lot of hard work.”
Triest is also selling the station to spend more time to his wife of 51 years, Isabel, and his grandchildren.
“I put in seven days a week (working on the business),” he said. “It’s a lot of work. My wife’s been after me to retire.”
Triest plans to devote more time to his home and yard as well.
“There’s lots of things I can do to stay busy,” he said.
After more than four decades in business, Triest said he has “no gripes.”
“I’ve been satisfied with the community, he said. “They’ve supported me pretty darn good over the years. There’s an awful lot of good people in this community.”
Triest said he’ll miss the “camraderie with all the customers” the most.
“I know that I will miss seeing you all on a regular basis, but I look forward to seeing you around the community as I enjoy a well-deserved retirement,” he said.
Over the years, Triest proved himself to be a successful local businessman by winning numerous awards from the Sun Corporation based on the total number of gallons he sold annually.
In 1991, he joined the company’s “two million gallon club.”
Many of the plaques are proudly displayed on the station’s walls.
These company awards often included free trips for Triest and his wife.
The couple has visited Puerto Rico, Nassau, Nevis, Jamaica, Bermuda, Virgin Islands, Spain, Mexico, Grand Cayman Islands and Las Vegas.
But Triest isn’t just a businessman, he’s a member of the community who cares.
He said he often donated to Oxford High School’s football, baseball and track teams and allowed student groups to hold charity carwashes at the station.
Back when the station offered vehicle maintenance and repairs, Triest said he allowed local teens to work on their cars in the service bays, free of charge.
For his commitment to the community and its youth, Triest was honored by the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce as the group’s Business Person of the Year for 2000.
“He’s been a good friend to this town,” said Sunoco employee Marlene Brieto.
“He’s a great boss. You couldn’t ask for anybody better,” said Sunoco employee Chantell Florez.
Triest said he and wife plan to remain living in Oxford and he’ll still stop by the station to check up on things.
“I’ll have to come down and make sure they keep the place pretty clean,” he said.