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Elmwood Park station gives away free gas — for one hour
Motorists wait in line along Grand Avenue Friday morning to take advantage of free gas at Speed's BP, 7450 W. Grand Ave. The gas station was chosen by an energy company to give away $50 worth of free gas per vehicle for an hour. More than 100 motorists we
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Updated: June 18, 2012 8:19AM
Grand Avenue at 75th Avenue was jam packed with cars on May 11.
That’s because at Speed’s BP gas station, 7450 W. Grand Ave., in Elmwood Park, was giving away free gas.
The deal lasted only an hour.
Peter Spino, owner of the gas station, said his gas station was selected as part of a promotion by Spark Energy, an independent energy provider that offers electricity and natural gas service to homes and businesses nationwide, in conjunction with “Windy City Live” a local morning show that broadcasted live from the location.
“They called me up three weeks ago, but they wanted me to keep it on the hush hush,” he said.
There was only an hour window, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. May 11, for people to get free gas at the station, but once the news got out about it cars were lining up. Spino said there were cars lined up along Grand Avenue going west as far as Narragansett Avenue in Chicago at one time.
During the hour window each car received $50 worth of free gas and 109 drivers were able to take advantage of the free gas within the allotted time. Spino said they sold 1,200 gallons of gas costing about $5,000.
Spark Energy is picking up the tab.
Spino, 53, who has been running the business for 16 years, said he enjoyed the free publicity. He said there were a few people who came in late expecting some free gas.
“A few people came late wanting some free gas,” he said. “One person came from West Chicago and said, ‘I think you should compensate me.’”
Spino said with the help of Elmwood Park Police Department directing traffic and his employee, Ruby Gonzalez, helping out, everything went smoothly.
