College Park, Ga.-based Kauffman Tire Service of Georgia Inc. is adding four retail outlets and one wholesale warehouse, currently under construction. The dealership, which has been a Goodyear distributor since 1938, will open retail locations in Lawrenceville, Peachtree City and West Cobb County, Ga., as well as one in the Lawrenceville/Suwanee area, according to President John Kauffman. Each of the locations will open this year as Kauffman Tire Centers.
The company also is slated to open its sixth wholesale warehouse in Augusta, Ga., in September.
In February, the company opened its 17th retail store in the Atlanta area in Brookhaven.
Bound Brook, N.J.-based Somerset Tire Service Inc., which does business as STS Car Service Centers, recently opened six-bay retail outlets in Jackson and Hamilton Square, N.J.
The dealership, which currently operates 60 company-owned locations in New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and Buffalo, N.Y., is also slated to open outlets in Lakewood and Berlin, N.J., in August, according to President James E. Hannon.
Somerset Tire also operates a commercial/wholesale division under the Banner Tire System name.
Charles Korner and Steve Maddox, co-owners of Anaheim Wheel & Tire in Anaheim, Calif., became a Tire Pros franchisee location in May, Mr. Korner said.
The two decided to switch from an independent operation to a franchise primarily to take advantage of the Tire Pros' advertising and the American Car Care Centers programs, Mr. Korner said. The dealership is now called Anaheim Wheel & Tire Pros.
Tire Pros, which is a division of Simi Valley, Calif.-based Aspen Enterprises Inc., now operates 65 franchised locations and 14 company-owned stores, according to Aspen Enterprises President and CEO Dennis Mangola.
Mr. Mangola said Tire Pros is scheduled to open its 15th company-owned outlet Sept. 1.
Portland, Ore.-based NRI Inc. (Northwest Retreading & Hudson Odom) began wholesaling new tires through its Northwest Tire Distributors division, created June 1.
Northwest Tire is selling Armstrong, Pirelli and Road King passenger, light truck, industrial and specialty tires throughout the western U.S. and western Canada, according to division President Chris Roberg, who added he expects the list of tire lines to expand.
``We want to be known for the industrial product,'' he said.
NRI Inc. is the second-largest off-the-road retreader in North America, using an estimated 7 million pounds of tread rubber in 1994, according to a TIRE BUSINESS ranking.
The division is operating from a Portland warehouse.
On April 28, John Grubb purchased Mena Oil & Tire Services, Mena, Ark., from Jim Hicks, who sold the firm to retire.
Mr. Grubb said he joined Mena Oil & Tire in October 1993 as manager under a contractual agreement that stated he would eventually purchase the outfit.
The single-location dealership sells retail and wholesale passenger and commercial tires and performs automotive and commercial service, including muffler, brake, front-end and state inspection work.
Mr. Hicks opened the outlet in 1966.
Sullivan's Tires, located in Seaside, Calif., celebrated its 45th anniversary with a sale in May, owner Patrick L. Sullivan said.
The retail-only dealership was founded in 1950 by Mr. Sullivan's father, Jack. Patrick Sullivan joined the company in 1970.
The dealership hopes to take advantage of a growing customer base when the University of California opens a Monterey County branch nearby, beginning Sept. 1, Mr. Sullivan said.
Bill Simon Sr., founder and president of Simple Simon Tire & Car Care Center in Baton Rouge, La., is chairman of the board for the Louisiana Retailers Association, a statewide organization representing more than 2,000 retailers, for a term ending in 1996.
Mr. Simon, who also is a state director for the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association and a past Louisiana Independent Tire Dealers Association president, started Simple Simon Tire in 1966. The dealership now has three locations, one of which does business as The Cheap Tire Store.
During his acceptance speech, Mr. Simon pledged to increase the services and membership of the retailers association.