Vehicles packed Hilltop Stop for five hours May 18 to fill up with cheap gas during the store’s grand opening.
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., owners Gary and Jane Gravel dropped their gas price, already below the state average, by 20 cents to $3.489.
The promotion resulted in the sale of almost 1000 gallons per hour during the five-hour period. Brisk business continued into the evening, Gary Gravel said, with sales of more than 7000 gallons for the day.
Hilltop always aims to be competitive, not just with Damariscotta and Newcastle vendors, but also with gas stations across the state, Gravel said.
The resulting local competition is good for everybody, Gravel said. Local motorists used to leave town to buy gas. Now, people from out of town buy gas in Damariscotta and often eat or shop at local establishments. “It’s helping the town,” he said.
The grand opening also featured giveaways. Richard Alexander won a mountain bike, Scott Malone and Joy Black won gift certificates for $100 and $50 worth of free gas and Scott Abbotoni won box seats and parking for a Portland Sea Dogs game.
The store also gave away 350 Hilltop Stop t-shirts.
Gravel expressed thanks to the Damariscotta Police Department for traffic control and to Damariscotta Bank & Trust for their participation in the event.