Terrible Herbst

Last updated
Terrible Herbst, Inc.
Terrible's
Type Private
Industry Service station
Founded1959
Headquarters3440 W Russell Rd, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Number of locations
176 (2022)
Key people
Jerry Herbst (CEO)
ProductsGasoline
Convenience stores
RevenueIncrease2.svg US$395.3 million (2022)
Number of employees
2,100 (2022)
Website www.terribles.com

Terrible Herbst, or Terrible Herbst Oil Company, is an American privately held gas station company based in Paradise, Nevada, United States.

Contents

The company operates gas stations in Nevada, California, Utah and Arizona.

History

The company's roots go back to a single Chicago, Illinois, gas station in 1938. [1] The owner of Martin Oil, Edward R. Herbst, was credited with becoming "the P.T. Barnum of gasoline" by engaging in unusual marketing strategies, undercutting the competition with low prices, and pioneering the convenience store model. [2] According to his son, Jerry, each time the elder Herbst would open a new gas station, competitors would bemoan the move: "Here comes that terrible Herbst", inspiring the chain's nickname. [3] Alternatively, the name is traced to a specific incident that occurred in the late 1940s as Herbst was moving to the western United States; when applying for a business license in Cheyenne, Wyoming, one of the city councilmembers (who owned a competing gas station) was overheard saying "If we let that terrible Herbst in, we'll all go under!" [4]

Ed (1910–66) and his wife Lorraine (1909–73) had two children: Dolly (1932–2001), a model who married actor Wild Bill Elliott, and Jerry (1938–2018), a businessman. The site of the Herbst family's original Las Vegas-area home is now part of the MGM Grand Las Vegas resort property. [5] Jerry graduated from the University of Southern California in 1959 and returned to Las Vegas to help with the family business, rebranding it as the Terrible Herbst Oil Co. that year. [6] Both Dolly and Jerry had executive positions in Terrible's. [5] Jerry is credited with the design for the company's mascot, known alternatively as "Mr. Terrible" [7] or "Bad Guy", [8] a cowboy wearing a black hat and a handlebar moustache. [6] Jerry himself was credited as being "the best bad guy of the West". [9]

The Terrible Herbst company is run by Jerry's sons, Tim, Troy, and Ed Herbst. [10] The company's headquarters is located at 5195 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119. Its stations are typically of the Chevron brand. In 2018, the company opened Terrible's Road House in Jean, billed as the largest Chevron in the world, with 96 gas pumps, 60 restroom stalls, and a 50,000 sq ft (4,600 m2) convenience store. [11]

Affiliates

Herbst Gaming

Herbst Gaming was a slot route operator and casino company owned by Jerry Herbst's three sons. It was formed in 1987 to service slot machines in the Terrible Herbst stores. In 1997, it began opening and acquiring full-fledged casinos, many of which were branded as Terrible's casinos. It operated two casinos in Pahrump before opening a third casino (on the site of the old Continental Hotel and Casino) in Las Vegas in 2000. [12] However, a ban on smoking and weak gasoline prices hurt the company's profits. [13] The company went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009, and the Herbst family gave up its ownership stake. Herbst Gaming subsequently changed its name to Affinity Gaming and dropped its use of the Terrible's name.

Terrible Herbst mascot sign at the Neon Museum Terrible Herbst - Neon Museum - Stierch - Dec 2019.jpg
Terrible Herbst mascot sign at the Neon Museum

JETT Gaming

JETT Gaming is a slot route operator and casino company formed by Jerry Herbst in 2011, after the family lost its ownership of Herbst Gaming. [14] In 2012, JETT bought out the slot route contracts for Terrible Herbst stores from the former Herbst Gaming, and also acquired the Terrible's casino in Searchlight, Nevada. [15] [16] In 2015, JETT bought the Gold Strike Hotel and Gambling Hall in Jean, Nevada from MGM Resorts International for $12 million; [17] [18] the property was later rebranded as Terrible's Hotel & Casino. [19] The company also acquired a second casino in Searchlight, the Searchlight Nugget, in 2015. [20] Terrible's Hotel & Casino in Jean announced its indefinite closure in November 2021. [21]

Terrible Herbst Motorsports

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoover Dam Lodge</span> Hotel and casino in Boulder City, Nevada, United States

Hoover Dam Lodge is a hotel and casino near Boulder City, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Richard Craig Estey. It was previously the Gold Strike until it was largely destroyed by an accidental fire on June 16, 1998. It reopened the next year as the Hacienda and then took on its current name in January 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa</span> Casino resort in Las Vegas, Nevada

Red Rock Resort is a hotel and casino in Summerlin South, Nevada, located in the Las Vegas Valley. It is owned and operated by Station Casinos on 59.43 acres (24.05 ha) located in the Downtown Summerlin neighborhood. It is Station Casinos' flagship property, and the company's corporate headquarters is located on the property.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Valley Ranch</span> Casino hotel in Nevada, United States

Green Valley Ranch is a hotel and casino located within the eponymous community in Henderson, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Station Casinos, and includes a 143,891 sq ft (13,367.9 m2) casino. The resort was initially proposed by American Nevada Corporation, which received city approval to build it in 1996. In addition to a hotel-casino, the company also planned to build a mixed-use project to accompany it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean, Nevada</span> Town in Nevada, United States

Jean is a small commercial town in Clark County, Nevada, United States, located approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of the Las Vegas hotel-casino corridor along Interstate 15, and 12 mi (19 km) north of the Nevada-California border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westward Ho Hotel and Casino</span> Former hotel casino in Las Vegas, Nevada

Westward Ho Hotel and Casino was a casino and hotel located on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, an unincorporated area of Clark County in the U.S. state of Nevada. The Westward Ho occupied 15 acres, and was the last large motel style property on the Strip. It was a two-story building with parking surrounding the buildings. The casino had many slot machines, and a gaming pit with live dealers. The games included blackjack, roulette, craps, and Let It Ride. A separate building, The Ho, operated at the rear of the property from 2004 to 2005, offering a small casino, a restaurant, and a convenience store.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa</span> Casino hotel in Nevada, United States

South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa is a resort located along Las Vegas Boulevard in Enterprise, Nevada, south of the Las Vegas Strip. It is owned and operated by Michael Gaughan, the founder of Coast Casinos. It includes a 137,232 sq ft (12,749.3 m2) casino and a 25-story hotel with 2,163 rooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Bill's</span> Hotel and casino in Nevada, United States

Buffalo Bill's is a hotel and casino in Primm, Nevada, United States, at the California state line. It is one of the Primm Valley Resorts, owned and operated by Affinity Gaming. It has 1,242 guest rooms and suites. The hotel is home to the now closed Desperado roller coaster, a hypercoaster with a 225-foot drop, and a top speed of 80 mph, a log flume ride, as well as a pool in the shape of a buffalo. The hotel-casino has two hotel room towers: the Annie Oakley Tower and the Buffalo Bill Tower. It is named after Buffalo Bill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Primm Valley Resort</span> Resort Casino in Primm, NV

Primm Valley Resort & Casino is a hotel and casino located in Primm, Nevada. It is one of the Primm Valley Resorts, owned and operated by Affinity Gaming. It is named after the Primm family, benefactors of the hotel and casino properties owned by Ernest and Gary Primm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrible's Hotel & Casino</span> Casino hotel in Nevada, United States

Terrible's Hotel & Casino, formerly the Gold Strike Hotel and Gambling Hall, is a defunct casino hotel in Jean, Nevada, approximately 13 mi (21 km) north of the California state line, and about 32 miles (51 km) south of Downtown Las Vegas. It opened in 1987, and closed in 2020. It was owned and operated by JETT Gaming from 2015 until its closure. It had 811 rooms, several restaurants, and 40,006 square feet (3,716.7 m2) of gaming space. The property is planned to be demolished and replaced with an industrial park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westin Las Vegas</span> Hotel in Nevada, United States

The Westin Las Vegas Hotel & Spa is a hotel and former casino near the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The Westin is owned by Highgate and Cerberus Capital Management, and uses the Westin brand under franchise from Marriott International. It is noteworthy for being one of the first Las Vegas resorts to prohibit smoking in almost all parts of the property.

Golden Entertainment is an American gaming company based in Enterprise, Nevada that operates casinos, taverns and slot routes. It was formed in 2015 by the merger of Golden Gaming and Lakes Entertainment. It is the largest tavern operator and largest slot route operator in Nevada. In October 2017, the company completed an $850 million acquisition of American Casino & Entertainment Properties. The company now has eight casino resorts, all located in Southern Nevada.

A Slot route operator is a company that owns and operates slot machines in several locations. By providing this service, many small businesses are able to provide slot machines that they could not otherwise afford to operate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Affinity Interactive</span> Private casino and sports betting company

Affinity Interactive, formerly known as Herbst Gaming and Affinity Gaming, is an American private casino and sports betting company based in Paradise, Nevada. It operates eight casinos in Nevada, Missouri, and Iowa, and publishes the Daily Racing Form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M Resort</span> Casino hotel in Nevada, United States

M Resort Spa Casino is a boutique hotel, spa, and casino in Henderson, Nevada. It is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Penn Entertainment. The property includes a 92,000 sq ft (8,500 m2) casino and a 16-story tower with 390 rooms. The M Resort is located eight miles south of the Las Vegas Strip, and is the southernmost casino in the Las Vegas Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannery Casino Resorts</span> American casino management company

Cannery Casino Resorts was a hotel and casino operator based in Spring Valley, Nevada. It was acquired by Boyd Gaming in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Fe Station</span> Hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada

Santa Fe Station is a hotel and casino located on North Rancho Drive in Las Vegas, Nevada. The casino is owned by Station Casinos and is located on 36 acres (15 ha) of land. The hotel-casino originally opened as the Santa Fe in 1991, and for several years included the only ice rink in Las Vegas. The Santa Fe was involved in a labor dispute with Culinary Workers Union that began in 1993 and lasted into 2000, when the resort was sold to Station Casinos. The resort was renamed as the Santa Fe Station, and subsequently underwent several expansions and renovations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aliante Casino and Hotel</span> Hotel and casino in Nevada, United States

Aliante Casino and Hotel is a hotel and casino in the Aliante community in North Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Boyd Gaming. The resort was announced as the Aliante Station in December 2005, as a joint project between Station Casinos and The Greenspun Corporation, with an initial cost of $400 million to $450 million. Construction began in February 2007, and the resort was built at a cost of $662 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuscany Suites and Casino</span> Casino hotel in Nevada, United States

Tuscany Suites and Casino is an all-suite hotel and casino situated on 27 acres (11 ha) in Paradise, Nevada. The hotel opened in 2001, while the casino opened in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Sevens</span> Casino hotel in Nevada, United States

Silver Sevens Hotel and Casino is a Las Vegas locals casino and hotel 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the Las Vegas Strip, in Paradise, Nevada. Silver Sevens has 370 rooms and a 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m2) casino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrible's Road House</span> Large gas station in Nevada

Terrible's Road House is a gas station in Jean, Nevada off Nevada State Route 161. It contains the World's Largest Chevron and is a tourist trap for people traveling from Las Vegas to California, being about 30 mi (48 km) south of the former. It has 96 pumps, 60 restroom stalls, and a 50,000 sq ft (4,600 m2) convenience store. The gas station is owned by Terrible Herbst.

References

  1. ↑ Benston, Liz (April 16, 2007). "Herbst family looks south". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  2. ↑ Briggs, Joe Bob (April 17, 2001). "The Vegas Guy: Terrible Casino". UPI Archives. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  3. ↑ Millward, Wade Tyler (November 27, 2018). "Terrible Herbst's Jerry Herbst has died at 80" . Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  4. ↑ Curtis, Anthony (February 11, 2021). "Question of the Day". Las Vegas Advisor. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Terrible Herbst Oil family member, Dolly, dies". Las Vegas Sun. January 9, 2001. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Funeral, memorial service set for Terrible Herbst owner who died Tuesday at age 80". News 3 Las Vegas. December 1, 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  7. ↑ @TerribleHerbst (May 5, 2021). "AHHH did anyone else see the Mr. Terrible mention under the mascots category on @Jeopardy tonight?!?" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ↑ "Top 202 Convenience Store Chains: Terrible Herbst". CSP Daily News. 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  9. ↑ Torres-Cortez, Ricardo (November 27, 2018). "Terrible Herbst founder Jerry Herbst dies at 80". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  10. ↑ Stutz, Howard (March 23, 2007). "Commission likes Terrible ideas for Primm properties". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012.
  11. ↑ Akers, Mick (July 10, 2018). "This Terrible's in Jean, touted as world's largest Chevron, aims to be tourist draw". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  12. ↑ "Fireworks open Terrible's at old Continental site" . Las Vegas Sun. December 7, 2000. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  13. ↑ Benston, Liz (March 4, 2008). "Herbst's profits burned up by smoking ban, gasoline prices" . Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  14. ↑ "New slot route business gets control board's backing". Las Vegas Review-Journal. May 5, 2011 – via NewsBank.
  15. ↑ Cy Ryan (February 24, 2012). "Herbst approved to buy slot route, Terrible's Searchlight casino". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
  16. ↑ "Affinity Gaming announces closings of its sale of its slot route and Pahrump and Searchlight casinos, and acquisition of Golden Casino real estate in Black Hawk, Colorado" (Press release). Affinity Gaming. March 1, 2012. Retrieved 2019-03-08– via BusinessWire.
  17. ↑ Form 10-K: Annual Report (Report). MGM Resorts International. February 29, 2016. p. 78 – via EDGAR.
  18. ↑ Richard N. Velotta (April 23, 2015). "Gaming regulators OK sale of Gold Strike to Herbst family". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
  19. ↑ Wade Tyler Millward (October 16, 2018). "Gold Strike hotel-casino in Jean to be rebranded as Terrible's". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
  20. ↑ Howard Stutz (June 25, 2015). "JETT Gaming's takeover of Searchlight Nugget approved". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
  21. ↑ "Terrible's Casino in Jean Hints at Permanent Closure". 28 November 2021.
  22. ↑ "Herbst hoping to start New Year with win" . Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  23. ↑ "Terrible Herbst Motorsports Wins SCORE Las Vegas Terrible's Cup II Pit Crew Challenge" . Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  24. ↑ "Terrible Herbst Motorsports wins Pit Crew Challenge again With record effort to start SCORE Las Vegas Terrible's Cup II" . Retrieved 2007-03-13.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.