BY HATTIE FRANCIS/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
hattie.francis@tidewaternews.com

COURTLAND—A North Carolina company has purchased the former Sunoco station in Courtland.

Jernigan Oil Co. of Ahoskie will operate the business as a Shell station, and Duck Thru Food Store will replace Bill’s Hometown Grill. The Courtland Duck Thru is the company’s 35th store.

Jernigan Oil also has a Duck Thru on Route 258 in Southampton County toward Murfreesboro, N.C.

“So we already had a store in the market, and this opportunity came available,” said Michael Harrell, president of Jernigan Oil Co.

Duck Thru took over the store on Jan. 20 and kept all employees, Harrell said.

“We’re hoping to increase the business and hire more,” he said. “In the next 30 days, the gasoline equipment will be re-imaged.”