BP station in North Kingstown reopens

By: Katie Davis | NBC 10
Published: July 23, 2010

A BP gas station in North Kingstown that shut down last week when it ran out of gasoline has reopened.

The company that supplies fuel stopped delivering refills.

But the gasoline was flowing once again on Friday.

"I got a phone call yesterday, saying that we got gas delivered. We're all set to open and we're back to our normal business hours," said Kristi Mitchell-Verrill, a gas station employee who got her job back this week.

Mitchell-Verrill said she hopes customers will return as well.

"We're hoping they'll realize we're open and come back to us because we need them now more than ever," Mitchell-Verrill said.

Employees told NBC 10 that the gasoline arrived Thursday afternoon, about a week after the station ran out of fuel. The delivery meant the owner could turn the pumps on and open for customers.

The fuel is delivered by Green Valley Oil, but there was no immediate explanation as to why the East Providence company started deliveries again.

On Friday, an employee told NBC 10 no one at the company could comment.

Even with this station up and running, another BP down the road remains shut down with no fuel being delivered.

Both stations were rebranded with the BP name at about the time of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

"Even though the oil spill had occurred and the negative public perception was in place, contractually, they were obligated to take down their Getty or Lukoil signs and put up BP signs," said attorney Warren Kirshenbaum.

Kirshenbaum represents more than 30 BP owners in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire who believe Green Valley is setting gas prices too high, driving customers away.

The problems got worse when many drivers chose to boycott BP.

"Some of them do owe money to Green Valley, and when they have talked to Green Valley, they haven't been getting relief from Green Valley," Kirshenbaum said.

Kirshenbaum said the pricing dispute isn't over.

He said he's still trying to reach a resolution with Green Valley, but he said it's possible the two sides could end up in court.