On a barren piece of land in Harris County, Texas, just outside of Houston, a discouraged but still determined drilling crew struck “black gold” in 1917. Weeks after paychecks from the new Crown Oil and Refining Company had run dry, ‘Well Number 3’ finally spouted oil. What flowed from the well was more than just crude oil; it was the foundation of what became Crown Central Petroleum Corporation and has evolved into Crown Central LLC.
The revenue generated by ‘Well 3’ enabled the young company to construct its own refinery. One of the very first refineries built on the Houston Ship Channel, the plant opened in 1920 with lube oil as its only product. But the range of products would begin to grow with the manufacturing of gasoline in 1925, the same year the Company was incorporated as Crown Central Petroleum Corporation.
Crown's Pasadena, Texas Refinery circa 1925
Led by Mr. Louis Blaustein, a group of Baltimore, Maryland based businessmen took notice of the growing Texas Company, and bought a 48 percent share of it in 1930. Shortly afterward, the Company purchased a tank wagon and began to sell products through a chain of 30 stations in the Houston area.
Crown tankwagon in Houston during 1930’s, ready to deliver products to our contract dealers in the area.
Retail outlet in Houston in 1930’s. Gas was pumped up into the clear glass cylinders near the top of the pumps and dispensed to the cars.
Five years later, in 1935, the Company went public and was listed on the Curb Exchange, the predecessor of the American Stock Exchange. Crown’s success continued as it pioneered the manufacturing of 100-octane aviation gasoline, which the U.S. Navy utilized in its high performance airplane engines during World War II. In 1943, the Company opened its first stations in the Baltimore area, and this marked the start of an extensive marketing and distribution chain spanning the distance between Texas and New York.
1950's Crown Bay Station with "Dual Chimneys" and "Complete Car Service"
1960's Crown Bay Station "Complete Car Service"
1970's Crown "Multi Pump" concept. Backlit Canopy Fascia and Display Fountain "Save Every Mile!"
1980's Crown "Express Mart" Convenience Store & Modular Fascia
1990's Crown Station with "Fast Fare" Convenience Store with "America's Graphic"
2000's Crown Station with Licensee Branded Convenience Store and "Wave" Graphic
The Crown brand is currently found at outlets in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
Crown became a privately-held company in 2001, and on March 2, 2005 merged into Crown Central LLC. The Company is based in Baltimore, where it has been since Louis Blaustein purchased his initial interest in Crown in 1930.
