Gas prices in Athens are much higher than surrounding counties.
If you have a friend looking to drive down U.S. Routes 33 or 50 to party this weekend for the Athens Halloween Block Party, you may want to tell him or her to fill up the tank before leaving home.
The average price for a gallon of regular gas in the state of Ohio was $3.03, according to GasBuddy.com. Of the eight cheapest gas stations the site pinpointed in Athens, the average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.14 on Thursday.
Though the price difference is clear, the explanation isn’t as immediately available.
A number of factors contribute to the heightened prices in the area, according to Kevin Goldsberry who’s worked at or owned Dale’s BP on Court Street since 1971.
The biggest reason for that disparity is that Athens is a small town in a rural area, Goldsberry said.
The other factor is less obvious. Because most local gas stations are independently owned, Goldsberry said, that entails prices to be higher.
“Being an independent owner in a small college town, I lack the luxury of a major intersection and big television ads to attract customers,” Goldsberry said.
Instead, Goldsberry said he’s had to heavily rely on customer loyalty and word of mouth to draw drivers into stopping by for a few gallons of gas.
Those challenges also contribute to the higher gas prices, he noted.
“I sell 35,000 gallons a month, while major companies like Speedway can sell 300,000 to 500,000 gallons a month, which means they have more room to move around prices and still make a profit,” Goldsberry said.
He remembers numerous occasions where he saw some corporate-run stations in Athens charging for less than he bought his gasoline for.
Bevi Powell, Senior Vice President of AAA East Central, had an explanation that was less anecdotal.
“There are many reasons for increased gas prices, one of which could be the competition in Athens,” Powell said. “Other factors could be the differing traffic patterns or the proximity to the retailers.”
Powell, like Goldsberry, maintained that gas prices are always changing, even hour-to-hour. Just since last week, Athens’ gas prices have dropped about 11 cents.
“It’s a crapshoot,” Goldsberry said. “You never know when the gas prices are going to increase or decrease.”
Goldsberry, who’s worked at the Uptown station since his father was the owner, said the average person “believes gas should be the same price everywhere but there are many factors that go into the prices.”
Frequent patrons say the gas station located along U.S. Route 50 in Coolville formerly known as the Cool Spot, which was sold to West Virginia-based GoMart Inc. in June, has always been known as a place to get your gas, due to its low prices compared to the rest of the county.
Whitney Vick, a Washington D.C. native who is currently staying in Parkersburg, West Virginia while working at OU, said he realized quickly how substantial the difference in price are.
“Gas prices at the university are a lot higher, so I just get gas on my way home because it is so much cheaper,” he added, “Even with the recent drop in prices it is still almost $3.30 in town.”
Vick filled up his green pickup truck Wednesday afternoon for about 15 cents cheaper than most alternatives in Athens. He said he’s lucky to have the choices OU students don’t.
“The students at the university be getting robbed,” Vick said.
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