Hess Express service stations throughout the region and the rest of the country are changing hands as the petroleum company buys out property owners to sell to a one-time competitor.
The New Jersey company announced last month that it struck a deal with Marathon Petroleum Corp. for $2.6 billion that would include more than 1,300 locations along the east coast of the United States, including seven locations in parts of Pasco and Hillsborough counties.
Over the last few weeks, Hess purchased four service stations in Pasco it didn’t already own, including the one at 28232 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel for $2.7 million. The other three locations in Port Richey, New Port Richey and Holiday sold for an average of $3.4 million each, according to county property records.
Other locations were already on land Hess Corp. owned, including 18431 Livingston Ave., in Lutz; 11224 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes; 17519 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in New Tampa; 13508 State Road 54 in Odessa; and two Zephyrhills locations at 6026 N. Gall Blvd., and 7317 Gall Blvd.
The full sale to Marathon is not expected to close until the end of the year, meaning Hess Express locations will stay that way for now, and will even carry its holiday toy truck at those locations, according to published reports. Beginning in 2015, however, those toys will only be available online.
Unlike the Hess business model, Marathon stores are typically owned by franchisees. The company has 5,200 retail outlets in 18 states, according to its website. The company already has six locations locally in Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Zephyrhills and Dade City.
