Crosby's

There were checks to be distributed to local organizations, supporters to thank, and a ribbon to be cut on a sunny Friday morning at the recently refurbished Crosby's Convenience Store in Byron.

“(The store) really hadn't had any loving care to it in a while,” said Lenny Smith, vice president at the Reid Group, owners of the Crosby’s chain. “To be able to come in, refresh it, and give back to the community (a store) that they’re proud of – whether they’re getting fuel or getting food.” 

As a thank you to the community for its support, the company handed out donations to the Byron Volunteer Fire Department, the Byron-Bergen Central School District, and the Byron Historical Society.

With checks made out to local entities, including the volunteer fire department, Byron-Bergen Central School District, and the Byron Historical Society

At the crossroads of Route 237 and Route 262, the hamlet of Byron, Crosby's has served residents and travelers for decades. Offering people a place where they can fill up their tanks, grab a slice, and catch up with their neighbors. 

“At this site right here, it’s been a part of history,” Smith said. “In 2017, the Petroleum family brought it into the Crosby’s brand. Today, in 2025, we mark the next chapter.” 

To Crosby, that next chapter includes more than just some fresh paint and a bigger menu. The remodel is a part of a larger effort to rebrand and reinvest in all of their stores. According to Smith, 2025 will bring a rebrand of all of their nearly 90 locations. 

The store now offers Crosby’s full pizza and sub menu, something Smith called “critical” as the company aims to grow further. 

“So we’re able to bring in the full menu, which is, you know, critical as we continue to grow,” he said.

Marketing Generalist Serene Lazaro agreed that the remodel was for more than just appearances. 

“This was a great opportunity for us to reinvest in Byron,” Lazaro said. “Our brand had changed about two years ago. So, we’re going little by little to get us to our rebranding.”  

The reinvesting isn’t only about looks and infrastructure – it’s about people, said Dave George, regional operations manager. To that end, he presented a $500 check to Dwayne Wetheral, chief of Byron’s Volunteer Fire Department, in appreciation of their efforts to keep the community safe. 

He then passed a $100 check to Don Yaxley.

“We’re fortunate enough to partner with the Byron Historical Society to locate and post historic photos throughout the store,” he said.

Dan Neeson, the company’s general manager of operations, took an opportunity to thank supporters who came to celebrate their long-awaited reopening. 

“We have folks here from Balkan Beverage, John Mills and Tony Falzone from John Mills Distributing Company,” he said. 

After the ribbon cutting, Smith emphasized Crosby's commitment to being part of the community.

“We could have the best fuel, we could have the best pizza, we could have the best everything,” Smith said after the ribbon-cutting. “But really, the value that we bring to the community is that we are here every day for you, and our associates are here to take care of you.”

Lazaro summed it up with the message to Genesee County with a smile, “Just come down and get your pizza here – so you have pizza.” 

Photos by Camryn Brookhart

Moana, a "very friendly" and sweet dog went missing from Main Road on Tuesday and ran toward Angling Road in Corfu. She was last seen at 9 p.m. Wednesday crossing Route 5 near Crosby's.

If you see her, please contact her owner, Katie, at 716-548-0559. She may be skittish.

UPDATE 7:30 p.m. Thursday: Moana is actively running around East Pembroke, between Indian Falls-Slusher roads and Route 5. She was being chased and ran into a treeline.

Crosby's convenience stores have apparently become the target of burglars after closing hours recently.

The most recent burglary was at 12:05 a.m. on Saturday at the Crosby's on Clinton Street Road, Batavia. The store closed at 10 p.m. on Friday night.

A source said it doesn't appear that anything of value was taken, but the burglars did make a mess of the store.

The State Police are investigating the Batavia burglary, said Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Joseph Graff.

He confirmed there was also a burglary at the Crosby's in Elba on Oct. 23, which is under investigation by the Sheriff's Office, and in Albion on Oct. 22.

"Preliminary indications all look to be similar MOs," Graff said. 

Press release:

Each year, ExxonMobil offers more than $2M of grant funding to its distributors to support local schools in their marketing area. 

ExxonMobil has awarded John Kennedy Intermediate a $500 Educational Alliance Math & Science Grant under this program.

Reid Petroleum, a local distributor for ExxonMobil, has also matched the $500 donation, bringing the total grant amount to $1K.

The grant is authorized for use in a number of ways, including films, speakers, or field trips to science centers; Student volunteer programs; Scholarships or awards to encourage academic or leadership excellence in math or science; Science fairs, parent/student events; Educational tools, such as computers, math or science books, calculators, software geared toward math or science.

Since 2000, ExxonMobil has donated close to $1.25B in grants for the Educational Alliance program. 

CEO of Reid Petroleum, Paul Reid, shares a vision of education and community involvement and has been involved with the program for close to 15 years, expanding it to include more schools in the past few years under the leadership of Meredith Reid Harris.

This is the second year John Kennedy Intermediate has received a grant from Reid Petroleum/Crosby's.

Submitted Photo: Superintendent Jason Smith, John Kennedy Intermediate Principal Brian Sutton, Pam Kilgore, Team Leader at Crosby’s Batavia, Mike McCarthy, VP of Sales and Marketing, Reid Petroleum, Jack McCarthy, John Kennedy Intermediate Student, John Kennedy Intermediate Assistant Principal Heather McCarthy. 

Press release:

At 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, the Crosby’s location at 2594 Main Road in East Pembroke will reopen to the public.

Crosby’s will also provide the first 100 customers to arrive following the ribbon cutting with a free $5 gift card which they can apply toward any purchase inside the store, including the great new products and services added during the upgrade.

This renovated location will provide customers expanded food offerings with the addition of a new Sub Shoppe, offering fresh and delicious made-to-order subs available alongside pizzas, calzones and breakfast sandwiches. The store will also feature a new f’real milkshake and smoothie machine and fresh-baked cookies will be available daily. 

Crosby’s is also contributing to the community as part of the grand reopening festivities in East Pembroke and will offer a $500 donation to the Pembroke School District. 

The store in East Pembroke will offer Mobil gas, and will be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Growing to Better Serve Customers

The latest updated store locations, which also includes stores in Kendall and Barker, are part of Crosby’s ongoing efforts to improve new and existing stores to provide a more comprehensive range of options and services for customers.

Visits from elected officials in local and state offices are also expected at each store to help Crosby’s celebrate the grand reopening of these renovated locations and the company’s donations to local school districts to help students succeed. 

“By renovating and updating these stores, we can provide more fresh options and expanded offerings to our neighbors and customers,” said Doug Galli, vice president and general manager of Reid Stores. “Crosby’s thrives in each of our communities by putting a focus on making customers our priority and being actively involved in the community beyond simply offering products and services.”

In addition to the new food, beverage and fuel services offered at these renovated Crosby’s locations, every store will also feature competitively priced grocery items, tobacco products and other amenities including an ATM, Crosby’s gift cards, fuel gift cards, money orders, propane exchange and a variety of New York State Lottery games. See each individual store location for further details.

— — —

Crosby’s, a division of the Reid Group, is headquartered in Lockport. The company operates 84 Crosby’s convenience stores throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania and Upstate New York.

The Reid Group, founded in 1922, is a full-service independent motor fuel marketer providing a comprehensive range of products and services for retail motor fuel outlets and convenience stores. The Lockport-based company serves retail and commercial customers. 

For more information, visit www.CrosbysStores.com

Press release:

Crosby’s is celebrating the grand reopening of two convenience stores in Batavia and Elba this week.

Grand reopening festivities will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at the store in Elba, located at 64 S. Main St., and will be attended by: Keith Palmer, Elba Central School District superintendent; Assemblyman Stephen Hawley; Jay Grasso, a field representative from Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer’s office; and Patrick McKinney, a representative from Congressman Chris Collins’ office.

At 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9, the Batavia location at 5267 Clinton Street Road will celebrate its grand reopening with Mickey Edwards, Byron-Bergen Central School District superintendent; Assemblyman Hawley; and Congressman Chris Collins.

In addition to the festivities at each location, Crosby’s will donate $500 each to the Byron-Bergen Central School District and the Elba Central School District.

Both of these locations were existing structures acquired by Crosby’s in early 2017 that underwent remodels that included major cosmetic upgrades and a variety of customer-friendly amenities including fuel, a sub shop and multiple hot and cold beverage options.

“Updating these two stores allows us to better serve our customers with an expanded offering,” said Doug Galli, vice president and general manager of Reid Stores. “Crosby’s thrives in communities like these because we become an active participant within the community – beyond simply offering products and service.”

At each location, customers can get a cup of Crosby’s signature 100-percent Arabica bean premium roast coffee for only 99 cents for a regular size. The Elba location will also feature f’real milkshakes; smoothies; and Crosby’s Arctic Express, which offers frozen carbonated beverages (Arctic Chill and Arctic Freeze) or frozen fountain sodas in more than 12,000 flavor combinations.

Each location also features an extensive take-out menu that includes fresh-baked pizza, made with Crosby’s own 100-percent whole-milk mozzarella, served whole or by-the-slice; fresh, made-to-order hot and cold subs prepared in an in-house Sub Shoppe; and fresh-baked cookies prepared on site. The Elba location will also have fried foods, including chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, pizza logs and more.

The stores will also offer a newly expanded selection of cold beverages, dairy and frozen foods, fresh fruit, competitively priced grocery items, tobacco products and other amenities including an ATM, prepaid wireless phone cards, gift cards, propane exchange and a variety of New York State Lottery games. Both locations will accept SNAP benefits.

The Batavia location recently upgraded the fuel facility and now offers Mobil fuel. The Elba location offers Mobil gas and diesel fuel. Both locations are also on the Plenti rewards program. See the store for further details.

Crosby’s, a division of the Reid Group, is headquartered in Lockport, NY. The company operates 87 Crosby’s convenience stores throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania and Upstate New York.

The Reid Group, founded in 1922, is a full-service independent motor fuel marketer providing a comprehensive range of products and services for retail motor fuel outlets and convenience stores. The Lockport-based company serves retail and commercial customers.

For more information, visit www.CrosbysStores.com.