CLEARWATER, Fla.-Don Olson Tire & Auto Centers expanded its Florida market territory with the acquisition of five former Tallahassee Tire locations, Oct. 1. The four retail and one combination commercial/retail outlets were purchased from Tallahassee Tire owner Gary Johnson, who continues to operate three Tallahassee Tire operations.
The acquisition gives Don Olson Tire 85 stores and will boost sales, already in excess of $100 million, by about $5 million, according to Larry C. Morgan, owner of the Clearwater-based dealership.
All of the facilities are located in the Tallahassee area.
Although each of the outlets immediately was converted to Don Olson Tire operations, two of the locations, one each on North Monroe and West Tennessee streets, are scheduled to undergo ``major renovations,'' according to Mr. Morgan.
As a state capital and a major university city, Tallahassee represented a significant means of increasing the company's market share in the northern portion of the Sunshine State, he explained.
``It's just part of our game plan to grow into areas like that,'' he said.
The purchase ``establishes a new future base for us to grow from there,'' Mr. Morgan continued.