Here on Long Island I have taken notice of a business associated with gas stations in this area, calling itself Bolla Market. When they first impinged upon my awareness, it was at Mobil stations in our neighborhood, so I assumed that was Mobil’s name for the snacks & beverages & etc store that they run as ancillary to the selling of gasoline.
Then I spotted an Exxon with a Bolla Market, which at first surprised me, but then I reflected that Mobil and Exxon are two different brands of the same corporation. You’d think if they were going to brand the gas stations with different marquees, they’d do likewise for the etc store, but whatever.
But then I noticed a Bolla Market that was part of a Shell station. That one made me blink. Mobil and Exxon may be linked as part of the same corporation but Shell is a direct competitor. Umm, okay, I guess they’re an independent org whose business model is attaching this kind of ancillary items store to various gas stations, probably as a franchise or something.
In Hicksville somewhere around Old Country Rd I noticed a gas station with Bolla branded pumps. So they also operate their own gas stations, as competitors to the gas stations where they run their little ancillary stores?
And north of Hempstead on Franklin I saw a BP gas station where the service bays, where they do oil changes and tune-ups and stuff, was branded Bolla Service.
I don’t know as how this would intrigue anyone else, but I find their business model fascinating.
Founded in 1989, Bolla Oil Corp. operates gas stations, convenience stores, auto repair and car washes throughout the New York and New Jersey metro areas. Additionally, Bolla operates Bolla Transport and Bolla Construction, focusing on the development of corporate locations, as well as a dealer and franchise business.
Bolla Market became a franchise in 2015, with the company also operating as a franchisee of Burger King, Tim Hortons, Pizza Hut, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Red Mango since 2017. These franchised foodservice brands work as nontraditional partners within Bolla Market locations.
I think they own some of the franchise locations. You might see a Bolla Market connected to a gas station, but you might also see a Bolla Market owned Burger King inside of a gas station. Also, from what I can tell, they own some of the gas stations as well.
When I’ve traveled through northern New Jersey I noticed Bolla markets associated with Mobil or other gas station brands. And on, I think Rt 17, there are a couple of Bolla stations that also have the markets. As I recall, they had the lowest gas prices in the area.