BP to sell three area gas stations, stores

The Realtor representing restructuring oil giant BP said Friday it aims to get offers on 56 retail gas station sites nationwide, including some locally, by March 6.

Sales could close around late April, said Amanda Gant, spokeswoman for NRC Realty Advisors LLC, which was hired by BP Products North America Inc. and BP West Coast Products LLC to do the sales. NRC specializes in selling petroleum industry property and commercial real estate in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

"BP usually takes two weeks to review all offers and will accept or reject the offers after the two-week period," said Gant. "Offers that are accepted will take approximately 45 days to close."

Of this group, 50 are currently closed and six are operating. Area BP stores on the selling block include NWC Route 47 & I-90, Huntley; 2015 W. Main St., St Charles; and 1502 N. Bridge St., Yorkville. Other stores are elsewhere in Illinois, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington.

BP is seeking offers, so there aren't any specific prices for the stores. BP spokeswoman Valerie Corr declined to say how much they're seeking for the stores.

Last fall, BP announced several moves to reduce staff, close facilities and streamline operations. In November, BP said it intended to sell more than 700 company-owned convenience stores over the next two years. Such sales would eliminate 9,500 BP convenience store positions and 350 business support staff.

However, those BP employees at these stores may not necessarily face unemployment.

"Whether employees are hired by the new owner is up to the owner," Corr said. "It's been our experience that employees are often hired by the new owners. But again, it's the owner's decision."