About
Krist Oil Company was born during the early years of World War I in 1917, when Krist Atanasoff decided to purchase a candy store in the small town of Caspian, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He came to the United States in 1909 from southeastern Europe. Like many of our ancestors, he came to America in search of a better opportunity–that’s just what he found!
The Candy Store
Krist purchased the candy store and operated it for a few years, serving the families of the many miners who flocked to the area in efforts to satisfy America’s demand for steel.
The Tavern
In 1933, prohibition ended and over the next few years, Krist purchased a tavern that had come up for sale across the street from the candy store. With his ambition and hard work ethic, he ran both locations successfully. With the onset of automobiles, he added gasoline pumps on front of the tavern, offering full-service fill-ups to his many customers.
Stambaugh Oil Company
With his progressive nature and good personality, his business grew and soon he was able to start a small oil company called Stambaugh Oil Company.
Partnership
He then operated his businesses and provided for his young family until 1950, when he formed a partnership with his son Stanley, who had been helping him since he had become of age. Krist and his son had worked together for nearly six years when Krist unexpectedly passed away in 1956.
Beginning of a Legacy
Stanley purchased the remainder of the company from his family and changed the name from Stambaugh Oil Company to Krist Oil Company in remembrance of his father. Thus, the legacy began!
Three Generations Later
Nearly a half a century and three generations later, Krist Oil Company is proudly still here to serve you and still growing. We now own and operate 78 convenience stores across the Upper Peninsula, Northern Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Many of these stores, Stanley and his son have built with their own hands, and keep numerous houses warm during our cold winter months with Liquid Petroleum (LP) gas and home heating oil.
Present Day
Today, Krist Oil is a self-sufficient company that transports all of its fuel, grocery, and dairy to keep the convenience stores supplied weekly. A Home Heating business supplying Propane and Fuel Oil to area homes is also an integral part of the Krist Oil Company with several propane plants in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The candy store and tavern may be gone, but the values of those small-town businesses still remain.