About
Founded in 1934, Lewis Oil Company, Inc. is a fifth-generation, family-owned business serving the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee with petroleum products and services. We maintain the belief that there is no substitution for the integrity, work ethic, and customer care that family ownership provides.
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Lewis Oil Company is a distributor of Exxon, Mobil, Valero, and TimCo branded fuels, and we supply premium heating oil, Kerosene, On and Off-Road diesel fuel, Laser Heating Systems, high quality lubricants, unbranded gasoline, and much more. We proudly serve the people of Jackson, Swain, and Macon Counties and the surrounding areas of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee as the only locally owned and operated fuel distributor.
Lewis Oil Company was formed under Ernest Lewis and his son T. C. who operated two Esso (ExxonMobil) affiliated service stations on either end of downtown Sylva, North Carolina. Over the years, the Esso distributorship became Exxon and T. C. expanded into the heating oil business. In the late 1960's Lewis Oil began serving residential and commercial clients in Western North Carolina. Tim Lewis (T. C.'s son) began leading the company in the late 1980's. Since then, the company has grown and expanded and continues to be recognized for its dedication to customer and community service. Lewis Oil Company maintains the Exxon distributorship and now also includes a Valero distributorship, a Laser Heat System distributorship, On and Off-Road diesel fuel, Kerosene, heating oil, branded and unbranded gasoline, convenience stores named TopCat Markets, Inc (T. C.'s nickname during his service in the U.S. Air Force), as well as many other expanded product lines and services.

Tim's wife Margie serves as Executive Secretary of the company. Their oldest son Cory (and wife Haize) serves as Chief Investment Officer, and his younger brother Cody (and wife Melissa) serves as Chief Financial Officer. The two brothers and their kids getting involved makes Lewis Oil Company a fifth generation family-owned business that maintains the belief that there’s no substitution for the integrity, work ethic, and customer care that a family-owned business can provide.
Company Timeline
Founded 1934
Lewis Esso was founded in 1934 by Ernest Lewis on Main Street in downtown Sylva, North Carolina at foot of the historic courthouse steps.
T. C. Lewis Serves in Air Force, Earns Name Top Cat
T. C. Lewis (Ernest's son) served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. While serving, he earned the name Top Cat - a name that would later adorn the C-Stores in his honor that he was so integral in starting.
Tear Down Renovation of Original Store
A tear down renovation was completed in the 1950's at the original store location on Main Street in Sylva, North Carolina.
T. C. Lewis Officially Takes Over
T. C. Lewis (Ernest's son) takes over the company helm and the company moves to the second generation.
T. C. Lewis Gets Elected
T. C. Lewis is elected Mayor of Sylva and embarks on a long political career - always concerend with making North Carolina a better place. Pictured below with Governor Jim Hunt (right).
Flagship Store Purchased
Tim Lewis guides the company to purchase a small store with two fuel dispensers and a gravel parking lot fronting what is now the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway between Cherokee, NC and Atlanta, GA in 1989 that would serve as the C-Store company's flagship store after extensive remodeling and expansion. The fuel distributorship offices were eventually relocated to the same property.
80th Anniversary Celebration
Lewis Oil Company, Inc. celebrates 80 years throughout 2014 with customer appreciation, giveaways, and more expansion.
Our State Magazine Feature
The company was included in a list of "The 100 Family Businesses That Built NC" feature that also included some other longstanding staples in the North Carolina business community like Biltmore Farms and Estate.
RentTheToys Opens
In March of 2023, RentTheToys, LLC opened behind the flagship TopCat store in Sylva, North Carolina. The company does just what the name implies renting street legal side by sides and other vehicles through a curated selection of trips around the area, including the Wayehutta UTV Trail System. For more, visit www.RentTheToys.com
Corporate Office Opens
In April of 2024, a small corporate office was opened in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. It houses upper management for the various entities, and serves a variety of purposes, such as the billing department for the in-house account card system, inventory and pricing administration for the retail stores, and more.
President Roosevelt Visits Sylva in 1936
Seen waving his hat in the first car during a parade in his honor down Main Street in downtown Sylva, North Carolina. The procession went right by the original store.
T.C. Lewis Opens Second Location
After returning home from the Air Force, and earning a degree in business from Western Carolina Universtiy on the GI Bill, T. C. (Ernest's son) opens a second location in downtown Sylva, North Carolina across from what is now Jackson Paper Company.
Lewis Esso Expands Into Heating Oil
Lewis Esso buys a home heating oil company in Sylva, North Carolina consolidating into Lewis Oil Company, Inc. in the 1950's. Picture below L to R are: T. C. Lewis, Ernest Lewis, and Duane Lewis.
Lewis Esso Expands Again
T. C. Lewis guides the company into purchasing an Esso bulk petroleum distributorship as that company divests from distribution of its products. Pictured below L to R: Furman Raby, Mike Lewis, and Tim Lewis.
Another Changing of the Guard
Tim Lewis (T.C.'s son) takes over the company in the late 1980s. Tim's wife, Margie, was already serving as Executive Secretary for the company. And the company moves to the third generation. Pictured below (L) Tim Lewis, T. C. Lewis.
T. C. Lewis Gone But Not Forgotten
With his passing in 2003, a few tributes were written about T. C. Lewis that pretty much summarize everyone's thoughts. An excerpt from one of those written by Carey Phillips and Lynn Hotaling reads, "We didn't expect to write another tribute editorial this week, and we're sad that it turned out that way. T. C. Lewis, a man who was always willing to help out, both in his political and personal life, passed away Thursday, and North Carolina lost one of its best."
The Next Generation
In March of 2015, another new store is opened between Franklin and Sylva, North Carolina led by Cory and Cody Lewis (Tim's sons). The stores are rebranded as TopCat Markets in honor of T.C.'s name earned in the Air Force, and divided into its own, separate entity - TopCat Markets, Inc.
TC's ProHardware and Outfitter Opens in Sylva
In February 2018, TC's ProHardware and Outfitter was opened in Sylva, North Carolina. The latest Lewis generation reconfigured, remodeled, and built a convenience hardware store carrying a wide variety of products and in-store services. Visit www.TCProHardware.com
In-House Fleet Cards Implemented
In January of 2024, Lewis Oil Company modernized it's in-house accounts by launching a new fleet card system. The system allows business account holders to have a TopCat credit card that works at all company stores, as well as at a larger network of participating stores nationwide. Clients earn discounts and are billed monthly for all purchases on one convenient statement.