$2.87 a gallon: too good to last

Motorists fill up with $2.87 gas at the Dodges Store in Clearwater on Wednesday afternoon. ( Douglas R. Clifford, Times )

UPDATE: Demands for the gas at a station at Drew Street and NE Cleveland Street in Clearwater got so intense that cars began blocking traffic.

Clearwater police gave the management three options: Come up with a traffic plan, hire off-duty officers to direct traffic, or let the police impose a traffic calming strategy.

Police spokeswoman Joelle Castelli said the station's managers called the corporate office and were told to raise the price to $3.25. Dodges Store vice president Nat Leathers said that is not true. He said the prices went up because the station ran out of fuel and got a new shipment at a higher price.

The original story:

CLEARWATER -- The Dodge's Store gas station at the corner of Drew Street and NE Cleveland Street in Clearwater is selling gas for $2.87 per gallon.

During the lunch hour, more than 30 cars crowded the corner waiting to fill up.

The manager of the store referred a reporter to the corporate office. He said the store gave the same discount Tuesday. One other Dodges station in Dunedin is reportedly offering the same price.

Customers were giddy as they pumped their gas.

"My boyfriend told me about this place," Diana Petersen, 45, said. "He said they have it for $2.87 and get my butt down here."

Petersen was putting 14 gallons into her gray Mercury Mountaineer sports utility vehicle.

Rod Cox, 33, was bringing the first of his family's three cars to the station. He said he'd save $100 because of the price.

"If they put it back from $2.45 to $2.90, we'll be all right," Cox said.

The last time Florida's average gasoline price was that low was Oct. 29, 2007, according to data from the Energy Information Administration.

The clamor of cars pushing to get a spot at the pump forced the police to respond to keep everything moving smoothly.

Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

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