ANTIGONISH – Irving Oil is closing its gas station on Post Rd. in Antigonish County, a move that not only comes as a surprise to the brothers who leased and operated the local business, but also the countless customers who have supported the neighbourhood operation for more than three decades.
“It wasn’t our decision – that’s for sure,” Joe MacDonald told The Journal in a phone interview, noting they recently received word from the parent company of the pending move.
He added, “It is sad to see,” offering that he and his brother, John, certainly weren’t expecting to have to start writing resumes at this stage of their lives.
“We thought we were going to be ending our careers here,” Joe noted.
The closure date – after 32 years, with the brothers taking over for their late father, Alex, in 1999 – is set for Friday, Oct. 30.
“You’ll have to talk to them,” Joe said, of Irving Oil, when asked about the reasons for the closure, noting they have heard it may have had something to do with the cost associated with the needed replacement of the location’s underground tanks.
Representatives of Irving Oil did not respond to an interview request from The Journal as of press time.
The mothballing of the operation marks an end of an era, including the MacDonald family’s place as not only the oldest Irving distributor in the area but also the only remaining gas station that offers a full-service option in Antigonish.
“They’re the kind of place where someone still comes out to give you a hand,” Jeff Dee, a long-time customer, told The Journal. “Whether you need a propane refill, a quick check under the hood, or just a friendly chat at the pumps, this is where service still means something.”
The legacy of second-to-none customer service spans more than a half-century. In the late 1960s, Alex leased and operated the former Irving service station in Marshy Hope, along with an AMC Jeep dealership. The founder moved to Post Rd. in 1994, where he coupled service station offerings with what became Alex MacDonald Motors Limited.
There have been changes over the years, including the phasing out of the car dealership and mechanic service a decade or more ago. But what has remained consistent is the brothers’ commitment to unmatched customer service.
“Very loyal,” Joe said of their clientele, noting they know most by name and many have become “good friends” over the years.
As for the response from customers to the coming end of the line for the business, he added, “They said they are sad to see us leave.”
There has been a social media buzz since word of the closure, especially in response to a heartfelt thank-you from the brothers to their customers posted on Facebook.
“Thank you very much for many years of wonderful service,” Krista McKenna wrote, echoing the theme of many of the messages.
Jane MacDonald added, “We will miss you guys.”
Shannon Fear wrote, “My favourite station – you will be missed.”
“We valued you,” Terry Cameron added.
Dee, president and owner of Eastern 2.0 Waste Systems Ltd., said he was “really shocked” by word of the coming closure, agreeing that it will mark the “end of an era.” He noted the business was his “go-to” for gas and propane, along with – occasionally – diesel fuel for his business vehicles.
Noting the “loyalty” the brothers received over the years, Dee attributed it to the “high level of customer service” they and their employees provided.
“It is going to be missed,” he offered of the full-service model that is increasingly rare in the industry.
Describing them as “great people,” Dee also commended the brothers for being “very good to the community in a lot of ways.”
He offered that it is “going to be strange” not to see the traffic entering and exiting the location daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
“It is going to leave a big void,” Dee said.
Reflecting on their legacy, Joe offered that they are proud of the many young people – he estimated as many as 150 – who they provided with part-time and summer employment over the years.
“You name it,” he said of the myriad careers their former staff members have tackled, including engineering, nursing and psychiatry.
Joe agreed that they “became like family” during their time on staff.
One parent reflected on the impact the brothers had on her son in a Facebook post.
“So sorry to hear this – Malcolm’s first job was working for you. Thank you for always being so good to him,” Tracey Lynn MacDonald wrote.
Antigonish Chamber of Commerce president Paul Curry – on behalf of the organization – told The Journal, “It is always sad to see a business close down, especially a family business that has been with the community for more than 30 years. I think the MacDonald family can take pride in their years of service, and their reputation for enduring quality customer service.”
Although he doesn’t anticipate the brothers will continue their careers in the same field, Joe left the door open to the possibility.
“Never say never.”
