PHOENIX (March 8, 2001) — Advanced Auto Service & Tire Center is negotiating to buy two Phoenix-area Tire Outlet Plus locations from Heafner Tire Group Inc. The deal, if finalized, would represent Advanced Auto´s fifth and sixth new stores opened this year, according to Brandon Carnahan, vice president of retail sales for Paragon Enterprises Inc., which owns Advanced.
Founded 12 years ago by Paul Couture, Paragon/Advanced Auto grew steadily to six Phoenix area stores before making a big leap in the past months, acquiring three downtown Phoenix locations from Fletcher´s Tire & Auto Service and an Eagle Tire store operated by Goodyear, Mr. Carnahan said.
The purchases coincided with the founding of Paragon´s wholesale business, Tire Partners, and becoming the only Goodyear G3 dealership in Arizona, Mr. Carnahan said.
"The Fletcher´s stores are large enough that we can operate wholesale and retail from the same location," Mr. Carnahan said. Tire Partners wholesales the G3 brands—Goodyear, Kelly-Springfield and Dunlop—the Kelly associate brand Star and Sumitomo.
Advanced Auto´s outlets range in size from six to 12 bays, Mr. Carnahan said, although most are "typical Goodyear-type eight-bay" stores. Besides Advanced Auto´s 12 Phoenix area stores, there are nine Goodyear company stores in the metro area.
Advanced Auto also operates two stores in northern Arizona. Mr. Carnahan did not comment on the purchase prices for the new stores.
The Phoenix metro area is home to more than a hundred tire retailers, led by Discount Tire with 40 stores, Big O with 28 locations, Fletcher´s Tire with 23, Firestone Tire with 20, and Advanced Auto and Purcell with 12 each, according to local newspaper ads and business directories.