New Lipton Gas Station Will Bring Diesel To Dalton

A new Lipton Mart is taking shape on Main Street in Dalton, and it's going to be a big change from what used to be there.

I talked with Mike Lipton, owner of Lipton Inc., on the show this morning, and he walked me through what's coming. Crews are doing a full gut of the old Mobil gas station on Main Street. New tanks are going in, and the store is doubling in size. When it's done, the building will be close to 3,000 square feet, with plenty of parking.

"People just want a well lit place with clean bathrooms" - Mike Lipton

The new station will have eight fueling stations, including diesel. That's a big deal for Dalton drivers, since no other station in town currently offers diesel. Lipton Mart will also sell beer and wine as well as have a self-checkout station.

As for a timeline, Lipton said his general contractor is aiming to finish sometime in September. But Lipton laughed and said to add a month to that for sign permits and other paperwork, so he's hoping for a September or October opening.

We also got into gas prices, especially with everything going on in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz right now. Lipton said each Lipton Market in Berkshire County sets its own prices based on local competition. That's why you might see prices in Pittsfield run a few cents lower than in Lee. If prices are going to move, they move in the morning, based on whatever his fuel supplier charges that day. Lipton told me that supplier is not directly Mobil, for what it's worth. There's no cap on how much prices can swing day to day.

He also said his profit margin on gas is only a few cents per gallon, and when prices spike, he actually makes less because of credit card fees. You can save up to 20 cents a gallon on gas by becoming a member of Lipton Loyalty.