Steve Pillis, owner of Pillis Brothers, located at 101 E. 4th St. in Salem, has announced that he will no longer be selling gasoline at his Pure gas station and auto repair shop, citing that it is no longer cost efficient.

“Ten to 12 years ago, gas was $1 a gallon. On full-service sales, I would make 30 to 40 cents per gallon,” Pillis said. “Now gas is $3 a gallon, and we’re still just making that 40 cents.”

Pillis said he purchases 3,000 gallons of gas at a time, which costs him$9,000 to $10,000. On that expense, he says he grosses just $400.

“I probably should have done this a year ago, but I hung on for as long as I could,” he said.

A fixture in the community for almost 70 years, Pillis Brothers will remain open but will instead focus on their auto repair services.

“It was a very tough decision to make,” Pillis said. “I hate it because my dad started in the business in 1944.” The gas pumps were removed on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

“It’s just a sign of the times,” Pillis said. “Either you change or you go out of business.”