Plaza Tire marking 50th

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Jan. 9, 2013) — Plaza Tire Service Inc. is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2013, with plans to make significant changes to its original, 50-year-old location in Cape Girardeau.

Second-generation owners Mark and Scott Rhodes, sons of Plaza Tire Service founder Vernon "Pee Wee" Rhodes, said Plaza's flagship store, at 2149 William Street—where the company was first established—will move to the opposite side of its block to accommodate a major commercial property development. The new outlet, at the intersection of South Kingshighway and Good Hope Street, is expected to open in May.

Company Vice President Scott Rhodes did not specify the cost for the project. Mark Rhodes is the dealership's president.

Plaza Tire and the Rhodes family have owned or occupied the entire block of commercial property located at the intersection since 1963—until recently selling the real estate to CVS Caremark Corp. To accommodate the sale, most of the dealership's former corporate offices and warehouse were demolished to rebuild its new store there. The old store will not close until construction of the new one is complete, Plaza said, with the goal of maintaining customer service throughout the entire construction and relocation process.

At a later date, CVS will take possession of the existing Plaza Tire property on William Street to build a retail drug store there.

The new Plaza store will feature an expanded showroom and 11 state-of-the-art-equipped service bays including an area for large truck work. Plaza said the outlet will continue operating during the same hours as the old location: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays.

The new store measures 10,300 square feet vs. 6,832 square feet for the old location.

During the 1970's, two 11,000-sq.ft. warehouses and corporate offices were added along Christine Street in Cape Girardeau, and Plaza also purchased the Arrow Head Tire building, which faced South Kingshighway.

Through the years, the dealership said it has faced a number of "high and low times without ever missing a day of service."

In 1973 and 1977, the block housing its home base was covered in flood water. By 1984, the existing 11-bay store was built, and the original car wash/tire store building was demolished. Forty-two inches of flood water covered the block again in 1986.

Two years later Plaza Tire purchased the former Cape Volkswagen dealership building along Kingshighway. On Nov. 19, 1994, a fire destroyed a large portion of the company's warehouse, which was rebuilt within months. Plaza's corporate offices were relocated to the remodeled Cape Volkswagen building in 1996 and in 1998 the former offices were converted into an employee training facility. In 2008, the company relocated its corporate office and warehouse to its current location at 2075 Corporate Circle in Cape Girardeau.

Then in 2010, the remaining two parcels along William Street were purchased, allowing Plaza Tire to own the entire block on which the dealership began operating in 1963.

Throughout its 50 years, Plaza Tire's employee base has expanded to more than 370 people, the dealership said, with more than 100 of them working in the four Cape Girardeau County stores, one Scott County location and the company's Cape Girardeau-based corporate office and distribution center, which support the daily functions of all 51 tire stores as well as Plaza's wholesale division.

Scott Rhodes said the company will likely add two or three employees once the new location is up and running. He added that Plaza is planning "several events throughout the year to mark our 50thanniversary." A company spokeswoman said a grand opening for the new store will probably take place in June.

Plaza Tire stores carry a variety of brands including Bridgestone, Yokohama, Firestone, Dayton, Michelin, Continental, Pirelli, Dick Cepek, Falken and Nokian, along with Ultra and Enkei custom wheels.