For Alex Griswold, renovating Palm Beach’s only gas station is about more than just giving residents and workers an updated spot to fill their gas tanks. It’s also a project to revitalize — and preserve for future generations — a fixture of town life, he says.
“When you grow up in a place like Palm Beach, you feel a deep sense of obligation to protect what makes it special,” said Griswold, who co-owns the 70-year-old gas station at 340 S. County Road across from Town Hall.
“This station is part of that story, and both our investors and I are committed to honoring that — not just for today’s residents, but for generations to come,” he said.
One of the only gas stations in Florida to offer full-service pumping, the station will close its doors on June 28 for a renovation project that Griswold says will give the station a look that will nod at its 1950s-era roots. He expects the project to be done by the end of the year, although the gas pumps could re-open as early as October.
Known for years as Gray’s Sunoco, the station will have a new name when it reopens — Palm Petrol.
Griswold told the Daily News the reopening of Palm Petrol will occur in phases, with the station’s gas services resuming Oct. 1, followed by the vehicle service shop opening on Nov. 1 and the expanded convenience store on Dec. 1. A grand opening celebration is slated for January, he said.
In March 2025, a Delaware limited liability company named after the property’s address, purchased the gas station for $11.94 million. That company is managed by Armata Holdings Management Corp., a real estate investment company controlled by Griswold.
A separate Griswold-controlled entity, 336 S County LLC, recently purchased the commercial building immediately north of the gas station. Griswold’s company paid a recorded $9.5 million for the building at 336 S. County Road, the longtime home of longtime fashion retailer C. Orrico. He bought the building from 336 Partners Inc., an entity controlled by Kathie, Casey and Colleen Orrico, according to a deed recorded June 5 in Palm Beach County.
C. Orrico closed at the end of May for a major renovation and downsizing, Kathie Orrico previously told the Palm Beach Daily News, with its reopening eyed for the fall at the same building.
Griswold, who has deep family ties to Palm Beach and recently stepped down from the town’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, previously told the Town Council that the purchase came after he and a larger group of residents pooled money to purchase the gas station when it was rumored to be for sale. Griswold has not publicly identified the other investors in the project.
It’s an especially personal project for Griswold.
“I grew up filling my bike tires at the station and getting candy bars after school,” he said. “My hope is that my children will get to do the same.”
Children stopping by the station will definitely have more treats to choose from, as the project will convert one of the station’s four garage stalls into retail space, expanding the convenience store area by 1,094 square feet, according to plans.
Griswold said the convenience store offerings will include the candies, treats, snacks and drinks expected at a typical convenience store, alongside a curated selection of gifts, baked goods, wines and other specialty items, with a focus on offering goods from long-established local purveyors.
The station’s three remaining garage stalls will see their doors replaced with paneled-glass versions that will match the convenience store’s new window design.
While the vehicle-service operation may be getting slightly smaller, its offerings will remain, Griswold said. Those will include tire nail removal, oil changes and diagnostic services.
The station’s exterior will see a return to the mid-century modern architectural style that defined the building when it opened in 1956.
Gone will be the “S-type” Mediterranean-style tiles that currently line its roof in favor of a flat roof to match the gas station’s original appearance.
The station’s exterior will feature a white paint job, with certain portions of the building sporting white porcelain tiles, all of which will be complimented by green and white detailing.
Renovations also include upgrading the stations’ fuel systems with new pumps, Griswold noted.
Keeping with tradition, the gas station will continue to operate as a full-service station, with fuel attendants ready to pump gas and offer an expanded list of services, Griswold said. More details about those services will be announced in fall, he said.
“This renovation project reflects our deep commitment to this community, and our dedication to keep the island’s only gas station a vibrant amenity in the town,” he said. “We look forward to welcoming everyone back to a refreshed and improved experience.”
Residents can also expect to see many familiar faces, as the new operators will pay the “amazing group of employees” of the station while it is closed for renovations, Griswold said.
Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach’s only gas station to close for revamp, reopen this fall
Reporting by Diego Diaz Lasa, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Diego Diaz Lasa, Palm Beach Daily News | USA TODAY Network
