Thoni Oil

Thoni Oil was a petroleum products distributor that had three 24-hour filling stations in Pensacola. It was owned by Richard Thoni of Grand Bay, Alabama and the local stations were managed by G.B. and Vera Ard of Cantonment. The Pensacola locations were at Palafox Street just north of Brent Lane, also East Cervantes at Knowles Street, and Ninth Avenue just north of Chadwick Street. The latter two locations had double bays for mechanic work to be performed, but were mostly used just to store cases of oil, extra tools, old tires, etc. In addition to gasoline, Thoni's also sold their own brand of motor oils and transmission fluid, which the employees added to their customer's vehicles long after most area filling stations had stopped providing the service. Most of their gasoline was supplied by excess fuel from trucks that were owned by much larger companies such as Shell and Exxon. During a time when Pensacola had only perhaps a half-dozen all-night gas stations, Thoni Oil was a favorite of late-night clubgoers, police officers, hot-rodders, and those just wanting to purchase an inexpensive pack of cigarets. In early 1980, Thoni's changed their work shifts from 8 hours to 12, and all employees worked from 7:30 to 7:30. In the mid-1980's, the Pensacola locations closed. The Palafox Street station was sold to Pensacola Christian College, the Cervantes Street station was sold to A.K. Suter Elementary School, and both buildings were leveled. The Ninth Avenue building remained standing, and the location was transformed into a hair salon.