Business & Tech
Hoboken's BP Station Not Affected By Boycott
Owner says he hasn't felt any effects of the unofficial nationwide boycott of BP stations.
Since the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded on April 20, owners of British Petroleum gas stations across the country have been reporting a decrease in sales. At press time, there were 760,889 members of a Facebook group called "Boycott BP."
This unofficial boycott has yet to reach Hoboken's BP station, located at the corner of 14th Street and Park Avenue.
"We haven't been affected that much," says owner Burak, who declined to give his last name, "There are some people talking about BP, but what are you going to do? It's not my fault."
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The U.S. government is holding BP responsible for the explosion, which has to date spewed more than 100 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Burak says his regular customers understand that his is a privately owned business and have continued to show their support.
"Everything's good. We haven't seen any change in business at all," says employee Ali Siddique.
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Burak says he is happy that they are not penalizing him for the company's mistake.
Hobokenite Steve Golub says the spill has not impacted his choice of gas stations at all. "The oil drilling doesn't even affect the actual gas stations. All gas stations share gas," he explains." He has no plans of boycotting BP.
BP has offered Burak support in case of a boycott, including signs that explain that the station is privately owned; that explain that, despite what one may think, this isn't a BP business.
"I didn't even know about the signs at first," he says, "I don't need them. There's no reason to put them out."
Siddique credits the station's location for the continued customer support. Being so close to the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels is good for business. Most people, "especially cab drivers," just want to fill up their cars before heading back to New York, where gas prices are higher, he says.
He adds that plenty of customers have been asking what BP is going to do, but it hasn't stopped them from buying. "A lot of people are really angry," he says, "but we're not BP."
