Born and raised in Key West, Tony Estenoz has also raised his family here. “I loved growing up here; it is home,” says Estenoz, with a big smile. “It was like the bar in Cheers, you knew everybody; I knew every kid in High School.” The hard part for him was leaving to attend FSU. “Suddenly you’re surrounded by strangers,” he adds. After earning a degree in hotel and restaurant management, Tony returned to Key West and was hired to open the delivery store for Pizza Hut. He then worked for Michael Knowles at Holiday Inn Beachside in the banquet department and loved it.
Opportunity kept knocking for Estenoz, this time it was through the softball team he and his father ran for, the former, Blaylock Oil plant in Marathon. Bill, a Blaylock sales rep, was on the team and asked Tony to manage a Cinnabon he planned to open downtown. That deal fell through but Bill ended up buying the Key Haven Texaco. He eventually moved the Texaco to its current location at the corner of N. Roosevelt Boulevard and 1st Street in ’96 and Estenoz became his managing partner.
The Southernmost Shell isn’t just a filling station. “The carwash has been a big asset, it’s convenient, soft cloth and works very well,” says Estenoz. They also have two new lifts for convenient oil change service. Tony’s Café offers delicious comfort food including their award-winning BBQ ribs and brisket. Stop in for a Cuban coffee and say hi to Katie, their four-legged mascot. They also deliver.
“I like to get to know someone new every day.” –Tony Estenoz