Welcome to Clipper Petroleum

Based in Flowery Branch, Georgia, Clipper Petroleum has been a Petroleum Marketer for 90 years operating as a convenience store retailer, fast food retailer, and wholesale fuel distributor.

Clipper operates 25 convenience stores and 6 restaurants in Georgia and South Carolina under the CLIPPER, Circle M, Subway, Auntie Annie's, Cinnabon and Bojangles' brands. Clipper also distributes fuel to independent dealers under the major oil brands of bp, Exxon, Mobil, Shell, Chevron, Texaco, CITGO, and 76 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

At Clipper we strive for a "Commitment to Excellence" so that we ultimately satisfy the one person who can ensure our continued success, Our Customer!

At select locations:

Postmates - at select locations

TAKE A QUICK TOUR THROUGH OUR HISTORY

Year founded as W.F. Homeyer Oil Company by Mr. Homeyer.

Clipper Petroleum Inc. logo

Mr. Homeyer took an around the world trip on the famed Pan Am Clipper airplane. He was so impressed by the famous airplane and the service he received that, on December 30, 1957 he renamed the company Clipper Petroleum.

On May 1, 1974 Tom Bower and Robert Braff purchased Clipper Petroleum. Both men had previously been employed with Amoco Oil Company. When Tom and Bob took over Clipper, it was selling 300,000 gallons per month.

Tom receiving dealer development diploma

Tom Bower III joined Clipper Petroleum.

Circle M gas station

Clipper opened their first retail convenience store. The first store was in Gainesville, Georgia off Green Street Circle. The original store was called Circle Amoco because of the street name, Green Street Circle. In the late 70’s, the store became Circle Mart. And, in the 80’s the “art” in Mart was dropped to form the name of Circle M.

Newspaper article

The first Circle M store was built from the ground up in Cumming, GA. 

Tom Bower Sr. and Tom Bower III bought out Mr. Braff’s holdings. 

3 men standing in front of Explorers Transport truck

Explorers Transport was founded. Explorers started with 4 trucks and drivers. 

Exxon logo

Clipper became an ExxonMobil distributor. 

Steve Hall joined Clipper as General Manager 

News article: Clipper adds 16 convenience stores

Clipper purchased 16 ExxonMobil locations.

Subway logo

The first Subway location owned/operated by Clipper was opened in Lula, Georgia in June 2003 with the convenience store.

Clipper Petroleum Corporate office front entrance

The new Clipper Petroleum Corporate office was built in Oakwood, Georgia (previously had been in Gainesville, Georgia). 

bp logo

Clipper purchased 18 convenience stores from BP.

Clipper Petroleum Foundation logo

The Clipper Petroleum Foundation charity was founded.

Clipper logo

Clipper worked with Paragon Solutions to rebrand the C-store image from On The Run, Circle M, and Clipper Express to “CLIPPER”. 

Exxon gas station

One of the stores was remodeled to the new “Clipper” image. 

Clipper store with 5 people standing in front

Clipper built the first ground-up Clipper store.

Bojangles ribbon cutting ceremony

Clipper opened their first owned/operated Bojangles’ in Cleveland, Georgia

A new Maintenance warehouse, training facility, gym was built beside the corporate office in Oakwood, Georgia

convenience store

Today, Clipper operates 25 C-stores and 6 restaurants in Metro Atlanta, North Georgia, and South Carolina. In addition, Clipper wholesale handles sales to over 280 dealer accounts in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Clipper is recognized as one of the largest petroleum distributors in the Southeast. 

Explore Timeline
Explore Timeline

1933

Year founded as W.F. Homeyer Oil Company by Mr. Homeyer.

1957

Mr. Homeyer took an around the world trip on the famed Pan Am Clipper airplane. He was so impressed by the famous airplane and the service he received that, on December 30, 1957 he renamed the company Clipper Petroleum.

1974

On May 1, 1974 Tom Bower and Robert Braff purchased Clipper Petroleum. Both men had previously been employed with Amoco Oil Company. When Tom and Bob took over Clipper, it was selling 300,000 gallons per month.

1977

Tom Bower III joined Clipper Petroleum.

1977

Clipper opened their first retail convenience store. The first store was in Gainesville, Georgia off Green Street Circle. The original store was called Circle Amoco because of the street name, Green Street Circle. In the late 70’s, the store became Circle Mart. And, in the 80’s the “art” in Mart was dropped to form the name of Circle M.

1981

The first Circle M store was built from the ground up in Cumming, GA. 

1994

Tom Bower Sr. and Tom Bower III bought out Mr. Braff’s holdings. 

1997

Explorers Transport was founded. Explorers started with 4 trucks and drivers. 

2000

Clipper became an ExxonMobil distributor. 

2001

Steve Hall joined Clipper as General Manager 

2002

Clipper purchased 16 ExxonMobil locations.

2003

The first Subway location owned/operated by Clipper was opened in Lula, Georgia in June 2003 with the convenience store.

2007

The new Clipper Petroleum Corporate office was built in Oakwood, Georgia (previously had been in Gainesville, Georgia). 

2009

Clipper purchased 18 convenience stores from BP.

2013

The Clipper Petroleum Foundation charity was founded.

2015

Clipper worked with Paragon Solutions to rebrand the C-store image from On The Run, Circle M, and Clipper Express to “CLIPPER”. 

2015

One of the stores was remodeled to the new “Clipper” image. 

2017

Clipper built the first ground-up Clipper store.

2017

Clipper opened their first owned/operated Bojangles’ in Cleveland, Georgia

2017

A new Maintenance warehouse, training facility, gym was built beside the corporate office in Oakwood, Georgia

TODAY

Today, Clipper operates 25 C-stores and 6 restaurants in Metro Atlanta, North Georgia, and South Carolina. In addition, Clipper wholesale handles sales to over 280 dealer accounts in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Clipper is recognized as one of the largest petroleum distributors in the Southeast. 

Team Member Story

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Group of children holding big check

CLIPPER PETROLEUM FOUNDATION

Clipper Petroleum would not be the success it is today without the support it has received from our customers. We feel it is very important to give back to communities that have supported our businesses.

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Man displaying a clipper fuel savers card

GET YOUR CLIPPER FUEL SAVERS CARD TODAY!

If you haven't signed up for your Clipper Fuel Savers Card, now's the time. Enroll today and save up to 10C per gallon at any participating Clipper location. No points, no minimum purchases, no strings attached.

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