Our Story
The MotoMart Story
Decades Of Dedication
Founded on four generations of family tradition and service, the MotoMart legacy continues to live on. From humble beginnings to a strong community hub, MotoMart has made its mark on the Midwest. A true staple of convenience, we’re still offering up the freshest coffee and hottest food around. Join us for a trip back in time to see just how far we’ve come.
1950s
Starting The Engine
In 1954, James Forsyth bought three Southern Illinois gas stations and an icehouse in a tax sale for $50k. A few years later, he sold the icehouse which paid for the original stations and then some. We first opened our doors to begin serving customers the following year in 1955.
Pulling into one of our stores in the early days, an attendant wearing white pleated pants, a button-down uniform shirt and belt coin-changer would run to your vehicle, pump your gas, clean your windshield and check under the hood. Ah, the good ol’ days.
Times have changed, but our passion for serving our customers and our communities is still going strong.
1960s & 1970s
Mapping The Journey
Our Moto gas stations continued to build on the original mission to serve our local communities by offering convenient services and high-quality fuel. You don’t have to look too far to see this still holds true today. We became a staple for the growing communities we were a part of in those early years. Establishing ourselves as a reliable neighborhood resource meant consistently providing the friendliest service and affordable gas prices, and that’s exactly what we did.
1980s
Full Throttle
By now, our Moto gas stations had grown to 17 stores. With our purchase of 56 Imperial Oil stations in 1980, however, that all changed. Eager to expand our reach into new communities, we purchased a block of 50-60 stores spread across the Midwest, mostly located in Ohio, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Our family business began to boom.
In 1983, we added our first-ever inside convenience store to our existing store in Mascoutah, Illinois. Until that point, we were fueling service stations with outside attendants just like the good old days. So, we traded in our coin-changer, took up our post behind our service counters and never looked back.
Famously becoming MotoMart, we were pumped that along with fuel and convenience items, we were able to sell all sorts of grocery goods and prepared foods to help meet the needs of individuals living and working in the surrounding neighborhood.
A year later, having grown solely from acquisitions, MotoMart completed and opened the first store built from the ground up in Zanesville, Ohio. We now were able to control the design and build of our stores with the customer’s convenience in mind.
1990s & 2000s
Staying The Course
The 90s were tough for convenience stores across the country and our Moto stores were no exception. The industry was in the midst of a transition from full-service stations to new convenience concepts, and these were the years that taught us the value of discipline, tenacity and staying true to our family roots. Our continued focus on providing the best service to our customers, employees and communities gave us a renewed sense of focus and purpose. MotoMart saw steady and continued growth during the 2000s and we began to emerge as a leader in the convenience store industry within our respective communities. Keeping a family focus and staying true to our traditions, we never wavered from our commitment to the Midwest.
2010s
Changing Lanes
With growth and progress always in mind, we unveiled our new store concept in Fullerton, Illinois, in 2018. The next generation of MotoMart stores were designed to offer next-level service and convenience to our customers while being able to stand toe-to-toe with any competitor from across the country. With this new design, we paid homage to our rich past while continuing to demonstrate our commitment to serving our customers, employees and communities long into the future – all with a family-first mentality.
2020s & Beyond
Paving New Roads
The road ahead is paved with excitement as we continue to expand our locations and enhance the value we bring to our customers. In the coming years, we’ll be opening new stores to better serve even more communities by providing easy access to our premium gasoline and exceptional services. Our commitment to innovation and progress in the industry ensures that MotoMart remains a reliable and convenient choice for all your needs. We’re here to make your life easier, one stop at a time, and we look forward to serving you better today, tomorrow, and into the future.
