Mario Andretti helps Tallman's Tire open new location

ROME, N.Y. — A legend in motorsports helped Tallman's Tire & Auto Repair open its latest location, an eight-bay store in Rome.

Mario Andretti, one of only three drivers to win a race in Formula One, IndyCar, the World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR, was the special guest as Tallman's Tire of upstate New York state celebrated the grand opening of ther Rome location.

The 7,600 sq.-ft. shop is the seventh retail location for the dealership, which also operates a commercial location.

The cost of the investment was $1.6 million, which includes acquisition of the land, demolition of a vacant medical building on the property and construction of the new facility.

The manager of the location is Peter Trela, who oversees a staff of seven to eight employees at the location.

Andretti's presence helped attract more than 300 guests to the grand opening, despite rainy conditions, according to Ian Tallman, who helps oversee the family-owned retail and commercial dealership.

Tallman said the legendary racecar driver was scheduled to sign autographs from 1 to 4 p.m., but the line to meet him starting forming at 11 a.m., eventually winding from the far end of the shop through the showroom.

The 83-year-old Andretti stayed until after 5 p.m., meeting fans and signing autographs.

"He is so great," Ian Tallman said of Andretti. "He takes time to meet and listen to everyone who comes to see him. We had a couple of our mechanics at the grand opening who Mario remembered from the last grand opening he was able to celebrate with us 12 years ago."

As part of the celebration, the dealership offered customers $100 off any set of new tires. In addition, Tallman's Tire provided a catered lunch, while Tracy Acres, John Conway and Ralph Schubert of Bridgestone Americas' Firestone brand put up a tent to give away hats, shirts and other swag to fans for them to have Andretti sign.

Firestone also sent an Indy Car display car, Tallman said.

The family is excited about the new location, which is about two miles from another Tallman location. The new store, Tallman said, is located at the entrance of the Griffis business park, which he said has seen significant growth of new retail business, as well as multiple distribution centers over the past three years.

"Many new customers have come in to tell us that although our other location is just down the road, they have been waiting for us to open so they can do business with us because of the convenience of this location to their workplace," Tallman said.

Tallman's Tire has a strong presence in the area.

Tim Tallman opened his first location in 1980, in Utica, N.Y., a two-bay gas station on James Street. More than 43 years later, the elder Tallman still "loves being in business and continues to work on growing the company every year," Ian Tallman said.

Tim Tallman continues to operate the business, handles tire buying and works to grow the dealership's retail footprint.

Tim Tallman's sons Cale and Ian are alos involved in the business; Cale designs, installs and maintains the dealership's technology as well as manages the wholesale operation, while Ian handles tire buying and pricing and oversees day-to-day retail and commercial operations.

"We have a fantastic team of managers who allow us to operate and grow our stores with personal experience," Ian Tallman said.

"Rome has been a great city to do business in," he said. "We are very excited for what's to come as the city continues to grow."