GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — Big O Tires and Midas International franchisee Leeds West Groups (LWG) has expanded its holdings to 100 stores with the acquisition of Midas shops in Appleton, Wis., and Aurora, Colo.
The acquisitions expand LWG's Midas franchise network to 87 stores in 15 states, including a handful of Midas/Speedee Oil Change co-branded sites in the Chicago metro area. The group also operates a dozen Big O Tires stores and one standalone Speedee Oil location.
"All store openings are exciting, but obviously this location has a very special meaning, and is a special milestone for the company," LWG CEO Judd Shader said of the Aurora store purchase.
"We are thrilled with our current growth trajectory and strategy. Our growth over the last nine years shows our level of commitment to the industry and our chosen brands."
The Midas store in Aurora was acquired from Steve Armstrong, a long-time Midas franchisee who was looking to retire. It's LWG's 30th location in Colorado.
The store in Appleton was a 10-bay Midas franchise location that had closed unexpectedly in July. LWG worked out a new lease with the building owner and reopened the shop, its fourth in Wisconsin, in mid-September. A reopening event is scheduled for Nov. 2-4.
LWG — the 13th largest independent retail tire/auto service provider in the U.S., according to Tire Business research — did not disclose its investment in either acquisition.