Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • Mid-Year Report
  • ADAS
  • News
    • OPINION
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • Humanitarian Award
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • Best Places to Work
    • RUSSIA WAR IN UKRAINE
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
January 08, 2003 01:00 AM

ATD sells original Heafner retail store

Tire Business Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Jan. 8, 2003) — Fulfilling its pledge to completely exit the tire retailing business, American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD) has sold its remaining store—the very first outlet opened by J.H. Heafner—in Lincolnton, N.C.

    The retail store was purchased by Griffin Brothers Tire Sales Inc., a regional dealership with stores in the Charlotte metropolitan region, ATD said.

    “The decision to sell the store founded by J. Harlan Heafner was difficult for sentimental reasons, but clearly made sense from a business perspective,” said Richard P. “Dick” Johnson, ATD's president and CEO. “Since 2001, we have focused on our core strengths of distribution and service to independent dealers, because we feel that competing with our customers is unhealthy for the industry.”

    The company—which changed its name last year from Heafner Tire Group to American Tire Distributors—began as a family business in 1935 at the storefront in Lincolnton. During the 1990s, Heafner continued to grow through acquisitions of distributors and retail chains including Nebraska's T.O. Haas Co. and Winston Tire Co., then California's largest tire retailing chain.

    But in 2001 ATD decided to get back to its roots as a wholesale distributor, selling its Winston and T. O. Haas retail stores. That left the Lincolnton store as its only retail outlet.

    From its Charlotte-area headquarters, distribution center and regional hub, ATD operates 62 distribution centers serving dealers in 35 states.

    Griffin Brothers Tire Sales, based in Cornelius, N.C., is a founding member of the Tri-State Buying Group—a coalition of dealers in North and South Carolina and Virginia that is affiliated with the Del-Nat and Tire Alliance Groupe dealer programs. The dealership, which operates five outlets, offers full automotive service, including alignments, brake service and state emission and safety inspections.

    A Michelin associate dealership, Griffin Brothers sells Uniroyal, Delta and Continental brands. The company's founder, Larry Griffin Sr., opened his first tire store in 1961.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Average executive salaries found in Tire Talent report
    2
    Discount Tire installs RoboTire at Arizona store
    3
    Sun Auto opens stores in Nevada, California
    4
    UPDATED: Goodyear to close 'redundant' Cooper tire warehouses
    5
    Goodyear sales, earnings rise by double digits in Q2
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • Mid-Year Report
    • ADAS
    • News
      • OPINION
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • Humanitarian Award
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • Best Places to Work
      • RUSSIA WAR IN UKRAINE
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION