WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — McCarthy Tire Service is closing a retail store it operates in Kingston, Pa., and consolidating its operations at the firm's nearby flagship store in Wilkes-Barre.
McCarthy Tire said closing the Kingston store, which has been "particularly hard hit" during the COVID-19 pandemic, was its best course of action for the store, its employees and the company as a whole.
The dealership said the automotive techs and Herb Tietje, assistant retail manager, as well as the Kingston store's equipment, will relocate to the 10-bay Wilkes-Barre location, which is located just two miles from the Kingston store. The move will be effective on Oct. 5.
Kingston Store Manager Darryl Givens will join McCarthy Tire's commercial location in Dickson City, Pa., as that site's assistant manager.
"Closing our Kingston location was one of the hardest decisions we've had to make," McCarthy Tire President John McCarthy Jr. said. "This was the second store in our company. My father opened it in 1978, and it was where most of us in the family had our first training in the tire business.
"However, our No. 1 goal has always been to give our customers the very best service. The Kingston team has faced some insurmountable challenges these last few months. In order to maintain our commitment to our customers, we have decided to close the store and merge the team into our Wilkes-Barre automotive center."
Kingston is a borough of about 12,000 inhabitants in Luzerne County on the western bank of the Susquehanna River opposite Wilkes-Barre.
This decision to close that store is based on McCarthy Tire's monitoring the situation at its 60-plus locations, a process that also has involved moving resources and making adjustments as necessary.
The Kingston store will be open through Oct. 2, at which time all customer records will be transferred to the Wilkes-Barre store, ensuring a seamless transition for customers, McCarthy Tire said. The real estate will be sold.
The 125,000-sq.-ft. Wilkes-Barre facility also houses McCarthy Tire's corporate offices, as well as the commercial tire department, off-the-road and industrial tire department, heavy-duty truck repair department, mounted wheel program, mobile units and regional distribution center.