Local Owners Trade Citgo 'Stigma' for Mobil's 'Good, American Brand'

When you think about filling up your tank with gasoline, you're not often connecting the dots with international politics. But when you own a gas station or two, it's hard not to.

And that's the main reason some longtime local owners have changed the Geneva East-Side Citgo at 206 E. State St. to a Mobil station.

"The main reason is we feel Mobil is a good, American brand," said Guy Morgano, general manager of St. Charles-based Parent Petroleum. "We were trying to get away from the Hugo Chavez stigma associated with Citgo."

Citgo is a subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. Chavez is the "avowedly anti-American" president of Venezuela, according to a long-in-the-tooth story in USA Today.

Parent Patroleum is a family-owned business that has been pumping gas in Geneva and St. Charles for 50-plus years. Owned by the family of Peter Spina, now in his 80s, the company started making changes to the State Street Citgo over the weekend, first by sliinging a Mobil sign over the Citgo sign in front, then with bigger changes to the exterior.

"They call it a rebrand, and a lot comes in the form of a refresh at the store," Morgano said. "We've got a new Mobil canopy and dispenser (in Geneva), and we've remodeled the interiors of our stores—with nicer tile on the wall, updated coolers. We're trying to move toward a geen environment," which includes the use of LED lights in the canopy.

On Monday, the new Mobil was selling a gallon of regular at $3.29—tied with Fuller's for the lowest price in Geneva on that day. The Meijer station and the BP station, which officially are in St. Charles, also were selling gas at $3.29 on Monday.

The tie between BP and the newly branded Mobil maybe shouldn't be a surprise, because that BP station also is owned by Parent Patroleium.

Morgano said he couldn't disclose any "proprietary" information regarding how local gasoline prices are determined, but he did acknowledge that local gas-station owners don't have a lot of wiggle room.

"Truly, we’re nothing more than a Subway franchisee that sells Mobil gasoline," he said.

The Citgo station on Geneva's East Side for many years boldly proclaimed itself "The Pride of Geneva" and flew one of the most giant-economy-sized American flags you can imagine. Morgano said that pride hasn't changed one iota.

"We're really excited to be able to present the Mobil brand in Geneva," he said. "And we hope the patrons in Geneva enjoy having a truly American brand."