Holmes
Oil Company

Holmes Oil traces its roots to 1936, when Frank Kenan founded Kenan Oil Company in Durham, North Carolina. Initially a distributor of kerosene and heating oil for Pure Oil, the business expanded during the 1960s to include branded motor fuel distribution for Phillips 66 and later entered the propane market.

​

In 1974, Frank’s son, Owen Kenan, took over leadership. During the early 1980s, Edward Holmes joined the business, becoming Owen’s assistant and helping guide the company through new phases of growth. By 1992, the company sold its heating oil and propane operations to focus on retail and real estate.

​

In 1997, Edward Holmes purchased the company from the Kenan family, rebranding it as Holmes Oil. At the time, the business managed seven stores, ten dealer accounts, and several rental properties.

​

Holmes Oil’s retail footprint grew quickly, acquiring 10 “Snackers” stores in 1998 and three Cruizers stores in the early 2000s. The company continued to build and brand new locations under the Cruizers name, reaching 25 stores and 38 dealer accounts by 2016—alongside a growing commercial real estate portfolio.

​

In 2020, Holmes Oil entered a new chapter, selling its 26 Cruizers stores and all dealer accounts to Refuel Operating Company of Charleston, South Carolina. This strategic shift solidified Holmes Oil’s evolution into a focused real estate and investment entity, forming the foundation for the Holmes Companies as it stands today.