Duo take reigns of 70-year-old Roemer's Point S

MISSOULA, Mont. — When Jenny Hockman and E.J. Pribyl took over Roemer's Point S Tire & Service in Missoula recently, they inherited a business with seven decades of serving the community.

At a 60th anniversary promotion 10 years ago, Hockman recalls customers — some of them patrons from the early days of the business — stopping by to tell their Roemer's stories.

"It's great having that community connection," said Hockman, a co-owner and acting manager of the Missoula dealership.

Some customers have patronized the business for years, and they refer their friends and family to them as well. Roemer's also gives back to Missoula. The business launched a 60 Acts of Kindness campaign for its 60th anniversary and continues that work today by supporting local organizations, including the YWCA, Youth Homes, the Missoula Food Bank, The International Choral Festival and the Humane Society of Western Montana.

In December, they worked with the Humane Society on a pet adoption drive by covering adoption fees.

"It was fun to do," Hockman said.

Roemer's was founded in 1953 by Jack Roemer. It started life as a Conoco service station, but when gas hit $1 a gallon for the first time in the late 1970s, Roemer transformed the business into a tire and auto center selling BFGoodrich- and Mohawk-brand tires. In 1986, Roemer's became a Goodyear Tire dealer and brought the Goodyear Tiempo, the first all-season radial tire, to Missoula.

In 1988, Jack's son John Roemer took the reins. In 2000, when Goodyear announced price hikes for smaller independent dealers, Roemer's instead joined the Northwest Tire Factory LLC. co-op. In 2016, Tire Factory joined Point S, bringing the dealership to its current name.

With John Roemer planning to retire, Hockman and Pribyl recently purchased the business.

Hockman's career in the auto industry began in high school when a friend suggested she take a job with her at an auto parts shop.

"It's not something I ever dreamed of doing, but I've been in automotive ever since," she said.

"I have just enjoyed it. I enjoyed the interacting with people. It always seems like there's something different every day. It's great to have that connection and relationship with customers."

Hockman came to Roemer's in 2009. She enjoyed working for a family business. And though neither Hockman nor Pribyl are related to the Roemers — or to each other — in many ways Roemer's remains a family business.

"After working here so long, it seemed like the right thing to do to take over the business," Hockman said.

Roemer's has one location, a six-bay shop in the heart of Missoula. The dealership offer tires, but also repairs and service such as oil changes, tune-ups, brakes and alignments.

"We stay pretty darn busy year-round, which we're super grateful for," Hockman said. "We have a great customer base."

Being a small family-focused business has its advantages. Roemer's is able to focus more on its customers and build connections with them, she said.

"We're able to spend more time with them to give them that attention. ... We're not just churning people through as quick as we can."

In recent years, Roemer's has seen an uptick in business. As the cost of new and used vehicles rises, more people are opting to repair older cars rather than purchase new ones, Hockman said.

"People are investing in their vehicles," she said.

Like many small businesses, Roemer's has also struggled with staffing. When they post a job listing, they'll get lots of interest, but also folks who don't show up for the job interview, she said.

"I think it's just hard finding people who really want to work. It's a hard job. It's one where you really have to be wiling to work hard," she said. "It's physical. It's demanding as far as work flow goes."

As for the future, it's hard to say if Roemer's will add a second shop or look to expand, Hockman said.

For now, they're content to stay small.