Speedco to open 1st Wash. location

SPOKANE, Wash. (Nov. 19, 2015) — Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has broken ground on a Speedco commercial service location near Spokane, its first Speedco outlet in Washington and second in the Pacific Northwest.

Bridgestone said opening this store is the “start of a new chapter of growth for the company,” but declined to elaborate at this time on details of its expansion strategy.

The new store, on I-90 at exit 272 a few miles southwest of Spokane, is expected to be completed by next summer, Bridgestone said. The store will have two tire bays and two lube bays, Bridgestone said, with more than a dozen employees.

The company declined to quantify the investment.

The new store — the first new Speedco location since 2010 — will be the 52nd Speedco outlet nationwide. Speedco locations offer lube and filter and tire services in a quick lane-style approach.  

Bridgestone Americas has controlled the Speedco Inc. business since 2006, when it bought Bandag Inc., which had acquired majority ownership of Speedco in 2004.

“In the coming years, Speedco will expand its reach,” said Speedco President Chris Ripani. “The expansion will improve our network and make preventive maintenance services more conveniently available to the trucking industry.”

Mr. Ripani was named president of Speedco in October, succeeding Scott Damon, who was named president, Firestone Industrial Products. He has been with Bridgestone since 2001; most recently he was executive director of marketing, Bridgestone Commercial Stores Division, where he was involved in developing and implementing a go-to-market strategy for the firm's GCR Tires & Service commercial tire servicing network.

Prior to joining Bridgestone, Mr. Ripani worked with Bauer Built Inc., CarMax, Falken Tire Corp. and Sears Tire Group.