En Englais: Bridgestone, Correa Tire open Puerto Rico store

Tire Business staff report

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico  — Correa Tire Distributors, in partnership with Bridgestone Americas, has opened a Bridgestone-branded retail store in downtown San Juan.

The 39,650-sq.-ft. outlet is the first Bridgestone-branded retail store on Puerto Rico but the seventh Bridgestone Family Channel outlet on the island, according to the Nashville, Tenn.-based tire maker. Besides tires, the location offers a complete range of automotive services.

The new store is owned and managed by Correa Tire, which has two other retail outlets on the island. The new store is located on Ave. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, one of the main thoroughfares in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico.

The partners did not disclose the investment needed to build and open the store nor say how many service bays or employees it has.

The partners held a grand opening April 23 with Daniel Benvenuti, president of Bridgestone Latin America North, and Josué Correa, president of Correa Tire Distributors presiding. Others in attendance included Erick Herrera, country manager, Bridgestone Costa Rica S.A.; and Roger Hidalgo, director of sales, Bridgestone Costa Rica; along with other special guests and customers.

Mr. Correa said the store represents a “new standard of services in the tire industry, investing to continue to provide Puerto Ricans with the highest quality products and services within a very innovative model.”

Mr. Benvenuti noted that Puerto Rico is the largest market in Central America and the Caribbean region and therefore warrants the presence in the retail space.

Opening this store will, according to Mr. Herrera, support Bridgestone's goal of increasing market share and sustaining growth in Puerto Rico and the region. He also noted that San Juan has a measurable population of vehicles in the high- and ultra-high-performance segments.

Puerto Rico is part of Bridgestone Costa Rica's sales territory.

Founded in 1976 as an independent retreader, family-owned Correa Tires Distributor is one of the largest importers on the island and is Bridgestone's primary distributor there.

In addition to Bridgestone and Firestone, Correa Tires offers Aeolus, Carlisle, Continental, Deestone, Dunlop, Goodyear, Hankook, Hercules, Ironman, Landsail and Toyo brands through its stores.