Crossroads Fuel Service, Inc1441 Fentress Rd, Chesapeake, Virginia, United States

In 1960, being in the plumbing & heating business, John Keffer decided that the fuel oil business would be a natural fit for expansion, and would provide custoKeffers - Cross Roads Fuel Servicemers for whom he would have ongoing sales.  A neighbor, Merlin R. Miller, put up some money, along with John Keffer, and the Miller & Keffer Oil Company was born. Supply arrangements were made with Phillips 66, and the first year sales were $10,000.00.  In 1965, John Keffer purchased a gas station and small store at Mt. Pleasant Road & Centerville Turnpike, in Chesapeake, VA. This was the first service station served by Miller & Keffer. The look of this station has changed over the years, but it remains one of Crossroads’ best gasoline accounts, and is the longest continuously operated gas station in the City of Chesapeake. In 1967, Keffer bought Miller’s half of the partnership, and with Keffer as the sole owner, changed the name to Crossroads Fuel Service – named for the intersection of Mt. Pleasant Road and Centerville Turnpike.  The company continued to grow slowly, with Keffer working full time at the Norfolk Ford Assembly Plant, and operating the oil company on the side, with part time help, including his son, Alan.

In 1971, the business was incorporated as Crossroads Fuel Service, Inc. Keffer left the Ford Plant in 1972, to devote full time to the business.  1973 brought another milestone, when the business expanded to Elizabeth City, NC, with the purchase of a small Phillips 66 Jobber and a Citgo Jobber, which nearly doubled the overall size of Crossroads.  The oil shortage of the early 70’s, presented challenges unseen before in the oil industry. With hard work and a good relationship with both Phillips 66 and Citgo, business increased another 25%. At a time when many small oil jobbers were going out of business, Crossroads was expanding.Other companies were purchased by Crossroads over the years, expanding its marketing territory to where it now includes 12 Northeastern NC counties, as well as Tidewater, VA, where the home office is still located.  Crossroads Fuel Propane TruckCrossroads Fuel has been a Jobber for Phillips 66, Citgo, Amoco, Gulf, Unocal 76, as well as for their own licensed brand, HiLo.  By the mid 70’s, Marilyn, Lynn, and Eric Keffer had joined the company, and Crossroads continued to grow at a steady pace, while transitioning management to the second generation. John and Dana Keffer had ten children, all of who worked in the business at one time or other – some for short periods, and some much longer. Of those longer term, most notable are:  Alan, who was instrumental in the early years’ growth, and worked at Crossroads several different times over the years;  Marilyn, who began working, part time, in 1968, and is now the Secretary-Treasurer;  Lynn, who came to work at Crossroads in the mid 70’s, and has worked here full time, continuously, since then – now the company President;  Eric, who joined the company in the late 70’s, and left in the late 90’s, to pursue his own business. Eric played a large role in the expansion into the propane business, beginning in 1992, and played a key role in the propane division until his departure. Sadly, Eric passed away unexpectedly, in 2011.  The propane division has grown from a dream - with one used delivery truck, and a tool box on the back of a pickup truck – to a fleet of trucks, five bulk storage plants, and more than 2,500,000 gallons a year in sales. The founder, John W. Keffer, passed away in 1996, leaving a legacy of hard work and generosity. Crossroads has continued to expand since his death, and we find ourselves referring to events in the company, as before Daddy passed away, and after Daddy passed away.  Under the direction of the 3rd generation (now active in the business), Crossroads has expanded what began as hauling a few loads for competitors, as a favor, to a growing Common Carrier division.

Lubricants

Crossroads Fuel Service has been in the lubricants business for nearly fifty years, specializing in Unocal 76 products.  We offer four brands to our customers, 76 products, Kendall, Conoco, and Phillips 66 products. As a full service lubricants company, with territory predominantly in Virginia and North Carolina, Crossroads Fuel has programs which help to fill customers needs – focusing on their demands for effective, economically priced products.  We offer lubricating dispensing equipment and specialized delivery over a wide range of products which meet the most current specifications in commercial, industrial, and agricultural applications. Crossroads Fuel Service has five locations which offer lubricant in all packaging sizes, as well as bulk delivery.

Racing Fuel

• Sunoco 110 Octane Leaded Gasoline
• Sunoco 116 Octane Leaded Gasoline (Sales 5 gallons & up)
• Unocal 76 NASCAR HP Motor Oils

Waste Container Rentals

Crossroads Fuel Service offers waste container services to local homeowners and businesses in the Tidewater area with competitive pricing & the excellent service associated with the Crossroads name. Waste containers are available for rental by the week or per dump.When filling your Crossroads waste container, please note that the waste should not exceed the top of the container.

Farming Fuel

Many of Crossroads first customers were in the farming industry. Today, with many of our branch locations in farming communities, Crossroads continues to provide fuel and lubricants to farmers in Hampton Roads and Northeastern North Carolina.  Crossroads Fuel is also a proud supporter of 4-H, a community of 6 million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Research shows that youth development programs like 4-H play a special and vital role in the lives of Americas young people.  According to The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development, youth have the capacity to thrive when presented with the resources for healthy development found in families, schools, and communities. Crossroads supports 4-H and the opportunity it provides our youth to brighten the futures of us all.  The managers of Crossroads Fuel place winning bids at 4-H auctions in cities such as Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Tyrrell County and Perquimans County to ensure the ongoing benefits 4-H provides for our youth. In many cases, Crossroads Fuel has then donated the animals won to local childrens homes providing fresh food at no cost to the facility.