Hess Spokesman: 'Absolutely No Plans to Close Any of Our Stores'

UPDATE (March 5, 10:12 a.m.): Hess spokesman Dennis Moynihan said today that reports of closing Hess stores couldn't be further from the truth.

"We have absolutely no plans to close any of our stores," said Moynihan in a statement.

"We want all of our guests to know it's business as usual at all of our retail stores," he added. "Our commitment to competitive prices and customer services – it will not change. The brand is strong, and it will live long into the future."

Moynihan said there are a lot of people interested in that Hess toy truck program, and that will certainly not be going anywhere.

An Earlier Story Follows

Hess has announced it's closing its gas stations and will focus on “exploration and production,” according to media sources on Monday.

Recently, Elliott Management, one of the company’s largest shareholders, "accused the board of ‘poor oversight,’ and said that the company’s management was responsible for more than a ‘decade of failures,’” reported the Associated Press.

Hess will close its gas stations, including the Hess Express station at 362 N. Broadway in Salem, and focus on other parts of the business, including oil exploration and production. Many of the stations are owned by Hess rather than franchises, reported AP.