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.

Barnum of gasoline' by engaging in unusual marketing strategies, undercutting the competition with low prices, and pioneering the convenience store model. Herbst, was credited with becoming 'the P.T.

The company's roots go back to a single Chicago, Illinois, gas station in 1938. The company operates gas stations in Nevada, California, Utah and Arizona. Terrible Herbst, or Terrible Herbst Oil Company, is an American privately held gas station company based in Paradise, Nevada, United States.