On September 2nd Clifton Conlee who is the only son of Bert and Verna Conlee set up shop at 122 N Mill Street in Clio, which used to be the old I.M. The name of his business was called Conlee Motor Sales, where he was a dealership for Pontiac cars, Mobil Petroleum products and he had one single gas pump.
1938- On April 28th a dealership for International Trucks and McCormick-Deering farm equipme
nt was added to the business. With this addition the company name was changed to Conlee Sales. In this business they sold and worked on machinery.
1941- During this time the Pontiac dealership was replaced by Dodge and Plymouth, but during that same year that franchise was discontinued.
1943- With the car franchise gone during this year they became a commission agent for Mobil Petroleum products
1946- The business expanded to be made a distributor of Mobil products under the company name Conlee Oil and Tractor Sales. During this same year the company purchased “Consumers Supply” in Montrose and Clio, where he operated a bulk and station services.
1953- Clifton purchased property which lies between Clio Rd and the P.M. tracks at the south of city limits. Then in June of this year Birch Run Oil Co was purchased!
1957- On September 24th Conlee Oil Company was incorporated and took over Conlee Oil and Tractor Sales
1960- The McCormick farm equipment line was discontinued.
1961- On September 22nd Conlee Oil Travel Center was opened at the Birch Run Exit of I-75. This station was a first of its kind. It had facilities for overnight campers, a children’s playground, a picnic place for people to eat or you could go into the station and look at all the different vending machines. There was large parking area for big trucks to get in and out of and they sold diesel fuel there!!
1963- In September of this year a new office was built on Mill St in Clio
1966- Clifton’s son Richard returned home from college to take an active role in the business
1970- A Mobil outlet in Otisville was purchased, His other son Robert came into the business and Conlee Vending service was established.
1979-The Conlee Vending service ended and the Conlee Convenience Stores came into play.
1980- On December 30th the Birch run station that was located down town Birch Run burnt down. That station was never rebuilt at that site.
1981- One of our largest Country Store at the time was built at the corner of Vienna and Linden Road. At this location you could get gas, oil and any flavor ice cream cone! This location also has a Mobil Montgomery Ward catalog center, which was the first in the United States.
1985- Conlee Oil Company leased Property at our Birch Run station to Halo Burger and we continued to do so today.
1989- This is when we purchased the property located in beautiful down town Frankenmuth just North of Bronners, becoming our 4th location.
1990- Richard’s son Jeff graduated college and joined the work force at Conlee Oil Company. Also a hunting and fishing store was put into our Birch Run Location.
1996- McDonald’s was opened in our Otisville store
1998- The hunting and fishing section at our Birch Run location was closed
1999- They expanded the road by express on Vienna Rd forcing Conlee Oil to move the pumps and expand the property for easy in and out access.
2000- We starting building our first car wash on Vienna Rd
2001- The car wash is done and we official opened our first car wash
2003- Robert’s daughter Michelle came to work in the office
2005- We bought our sixth location in Montrose Michigan, which came with a carwash and a laundry mat. Also Robert’s son Devin joined the work force in the office.
2007- On July 4th the station on Vienna Rd caught on fire. It was such a shock to everyone. It took 3 months to rebuild the store and now they have a Rally’s inside the store.
2010- Conlee Oil’s moved to its new corporate office on Linden Rd with two rental buildings on the property.
2011- May 13th Debbie Stabenown visits the Birch Run Location to speak about high gas prices
Present: Conlee Oil Company is still going strong and in the year 2011 it will celebrate 75 years of business. There are now six locations from Otisville, Montrose, Birch Run, Vienna Rd, Mill St and Frankenmuth. We also have 2 peddle trucks that delivery unleaded gas, on rd diesel, off rd diesel, and home heat to people and businesses in our area.
