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There’s a well-known saying: “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.” In the case of Youngstown Propane, the little “acorn” was a 1,000-gallon propane refill station set on a 40 by 40 ft. cement pad, and the ones who planted it in 1981 were brothers, Bob and Vern Jones.
Initially, the business, then known as Youngstown LP Gas, filled propane tanks for retail customers who owned outdoor gas grills, a relatively new product in the market. The client base then expanded to include local commercial accounts who needed deliveries of forklift fuel. And with that expansion came a name change—Youngstown Propane, Inc.—and three more family members, Bob’s sons, Bob, Rich and Scott.
In the past 44 years, the company has grown to be an “oak” of a fairly substantial size, serving 12 counties between Western Pennsylvania and Northeastern Ohio, making it one of the largest independently owned propane companies in that geographic area. While Youngstown Propane has increased in market footprint, its physical location has remained where it has been from the start, at 810 N. Meridian Road, on the west side of Youngstown.
Staying Strong
Another aspect that has stayed consistent is the family ownership. Founded by the two Jones brothers, the company has maintained the familial lineage, even after Bob Sr. died in1991. “At that time, we established an ownership group consisting of my brothers, Bob and Rich, my uncle Vern, and myself. Then, my brother, Gary, joined the group in 1995,” says Scott.
Around the same time, cousins Matt and Jason also became part of the operation, in charge of leading the workforce. Although Vern subsequently retired in 2016 and Rich passed in 2021, it wasn’t until Scott’s brother Bob decided to retire in 2022 that the ownership underwent a substantial change. Scott took on the role of president with Gary as vice president, while Jason and Matt became part owners, each having their own area of responsibility.
While the faces at the top of the corporation may have changed over the years, the name recognition of the business has stayed strong, notes Greg Ensley, Senior Vice President, Market President Southern Mahoning Valley, Commercial Banking Team Leader.
“Youngstown Propane is a very well-known and well-respected business in our marketplace,” says Ensley. “It’s always been 100% family owned and operated, and that’s something the owners are very proud of.”
Major Business Changes
Another significant change for the business was the recent closing of the retail location known as YP Fireplace & Patio in Canfield.
Scott explains the reason for the decision. “We did a lot of good things there. Ultimately, that store had run its course. As we got older and wiser, we decided to focus on the propane side rather than a walk-in retail store,” as Scott put it, “propane was the bigger cash cow.”
The company closed the retail store at the end of 2024, as part of a “big picture” plan for the business going forward. Scott believes that there are plenty of opportunities for Youngstown Propane to expand to achieve better servicing of its residential and commercial client base. The major portion of the propane business is in residential home heating, with the remainder encompassing forklift tanks, B2B wholesale, grain-drying on the agricultural side, and of course, the walk-in grill tank refills.
One of the strategies is to establish satellite locations in the areas that they service where propane tanks could be set. Currently, a truck travels to a location to deliver propane and then, if necessary, returns to Meridian Road for a refill before continuing on the route, time that could be spent more efficiently by remaining in the service area to finish the day’s schedule.
With satellite locations, the drivers could refill their trucks while out in the field, which would allow the company to increase its territory and deliver propane more quickly.
Customer Satisfaction is Always Part of the Plan
Scott is quick to point out that, regardless of what changes the company makes, the importance of always satisfying their customers remains at the forefront of every decision.
“We are service-oriented. That’s what we do and that’s what we’re good at. And that’s what our competitors are not good at,” he says. “We’re picking up customer after customer because we genuinely care. That’s why we continue to grow.”
Talking about the owners, Farmers Greg Ensley says, “They’re very honest and hardworking and strive to just be a consistent provider and reliable source for their customers. They do a great job and have a good reputation.”
That focus on meeting the expectations of their customers is what drew Scott to Farmers National Bank in 2022. At that time, the company needed financial assistance to help with the buyout when Scott’s brother was getting ready to retire. When that assistance wasn’t forthcoming from the bank they had been dealing with, their accountant suggested Farmers.
“Farmers was good,” Scott recalls. “They made it happen. They were willing to work with us and they’ve been great.”
In addition to financing the buyout, Farmers also provides the company with lines of credit and handles its deposit accounts. On the Private Banking side, Rochelle Baer has arranged personal lines of credit while senior investment executive Linda Carey introduced them to the various investment products offered by the bank.
“We strive to be a one-stop shop for our clients, and this is an example of being able to cross over in a lot of different areas,” says Ensley, referring to the suite of services the bank has made available to the company and its principals. “Farmers goal is to be there for them for whatever is upcoming, whether it’s to expand the business or further their market share. We’re proud to be one of their financial partners.”
The Future
As for what the future holds for Youngstown Propane, the plans for growth and expansion will be handled the way they have done it from the start: with community decision-making. “We all have a similar attitude and vision as far as how to grow the business,” says Scott.