Reid History

In the early 1920’s, J. Ward Reid worked as a machinist at the Sterling Engine plant in Buffalo, New York. His favorite hobby was working on motorcycles and automobiles; his hobby won out over his career when he took advantage of an entrepreneurial opportunity at the start of the automobile era.

Reid Petroleum Corp. began as a one-pump gasoline service station at Lake Avenue and Clinton Street in Lockport, NY, a small city in Niagara County, north of Buffalo. Much has changed since J. Ward Reid gave up his job as a machinist to start this new venture, but the basic business fundamentals that he lived by have helped the company to grow and evolve in the years since then.

Mr. Reid began expanding the business in the late 1930s by opening more service stations in the Lockport area. He also entered the heating oil business during this time. Some of our suppliers in the early years were Harris Certified, Cities Service, Socony-Vacuum, Colonial Beacon and Esso.

During the 1940s, his sons, J. Ward, Jr., and Jack, joined him at work. In the 1950s, the gasoline business added new full-service dealers, while the heating oil business began fuel oil burner and furnace installations. The family formed J. Ward Reid & Sons, Inc., which was incorporated in 1957 to operate the heating oil burner service and installation business.

During the 1960s, guided by J. Ward Reid, Jr., Reid began to evolve into its present day organization. Reid Petroleum Corp. was formed to operate the service station business; there were 16 stations owned and leased by the Reid organization. Hawley Development Corporation was formed to acquire, develop and manage real estate holdings for the company. It was also a time to move to larger facilities. Company operations were transferred from Lake Avenue to our present location at 100 West Genesee Street, Lockport. Hawley Development continues to provide business customers with prime real estate locations.

During the 1970s, inspired by J. Ward Reid, Jr.’s vision of the future of motor fuel marketing, the company looked toward the development of self-service gasoline at convenience store outlets for its growth. Reid opened its first self-service fueling outlet with a convenience store in 1972 with Mesmer Dairy.

And by the end of the decade, fueled by the acquisition of Parks-Dahl Oil Co., Autotronics of WNY, and Exxon Buffalo Heat Accounts, Reid expanded its geographic area from Niagara County to seven Western New York counties with 40 locations – as well as an expanded heating fuel business.

Growth continued in the 1980s with additional retail sites and the acquisition of Green Brothers Petroleum, as well as a change in leadership with the retirement of J. Ward Reid. The 1990s brought the acquisition of Simon Oil, adding a wholesale motor fuels business to the company’s mix, and the sale of heating fuels, lubes and small commercial/farming business to better concentrate on expanding the motor fuels market.

By the end of the 1990s, Reid had grown from that one location in 1922 to a thriving business, serving more than 150 locations.

The new century brought further expansion. K&K Food Mart stores joined Reid in 2002, serving as a platform for growth in the convenience store business, as well as providing additional market areas to the east. Crosby Dairy Mart was added in 2004, expanding our footprint in the Southern Tier of Western New York and Northwest Pennsylvania. In 2010, we expanded our market presence in Pennsylvania. Reid Stores now serves customers under the “Crosby’s” banner.

Today, Reid Petroleum markets motor fuel to customers throughout Western New York and Northwest Pennsylvania. Reid looks to share the company’s values of having trust in relationships, honesty in all dealings, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a customer-oriented, cost-conscious, team-centered work ethic.

We are proud of our record. We are equally proud of the achievements of our associates who have made this record possible. We look forward to our future – a future that you will help create.