Recent Big O convert opens pair of stores in Indy

LAWRENCE, Ind. — Steve Towers, a recent convert to the Big O Tires franchise system, has opened a pair of Big O stores in the Indianapolis metro area and is evaluating his opportunities to keep growing.

The new stores, both existing six-bay buildings, are in the unincorporated community of Lawrence about 15 miles northeast of downtown Indianapolis and in Indianapolis proper a few miles northwest of downtown.

The Lawrence-area store formerly was occupied by Family Tire & Auto Center, while the latter was a Big O Tires corporate location. A grand-opening event is planned for July 22-23.

The stores are Towers' seventh and eighth Big O locations overall. His other stores are in Kentucky and Tennessee.

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A Big O franchisee for just over a year, 32-year-old Towers was a Midas International franchisee from 2013 until last year, building a network of 20-plus Midas shops predominantly in the Southeast, including nine in the Nashville area, three in Memphis, five in Alabama, one in Florida and two in Boston.

He sold those stores earlier this year to Legacy Auto Group of Texas, which now has a network of 52 Midas stores in seven states.

Towers started in the auto aftermarket as a teenager in Jacksonville, Fla., starting at a Tires Plus outlet. At age 19 he took over managing a Tires Plus outlet in Jacksonville, and after turning that location around, a store in Tallahassee and another in Jacksonville.

By then, though, he was eager to own and operate his own business, so with the backing of a Midas shop owner in New England he had come to know, he took over a "distressed" Midas location in 2013 in Alabama, turned that around and started evaluating other Midas locations that could be acquired.

Towers said he leveraged his expertise and his partner's capital relatively quickly into seven more stores. He bought out his partner and eventually grew the business to the 20 Midas locations he sold to Legacy Auto.

Along the way, Towers said he also took over in May 2021 a distressed Big O Tires store in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and quickly turned it around, quadrupling the monthly store sales with essentially the same personnel.

In August 2021, he struck deals with Big O franchisees in Bowling Green and Glasgow, Ky., to take over their operations, which, again, he was able to turn around quickly, more than quadrupling their monthly sales volume in short order.

"At this point, I was faced with a decision," he told Tire Business. "I had an offer for the Midas stores and was enjoying building up the Big O stores. Should I continue building the Midas business or sell and explore the Big O route?"

He opted for the latter, saying he felt more at home with the more tire-centric https://www.tirebusiness.com/news/big-o-adds-3-hall-fame-honors-top-dealers Big O business model, hearkening back to his days with Tires Plus. He said he had no issues with Midas; he just felt more comfortable with the Big O model.

Both franchise programs and owned and administered by TBC Corp.

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At about the same time, he moved his family to Louisville, Ky. — a stronghold of Big O Tires activity — and in short order took control of Big O locations in Shelbyville, Ky., and Louisville proper from franchisees nearing retirement or "easing out" of the business.

In March this year, Towers acquired the Big O business in Hillview, Ky., from Tim Brockman.

In each case, the stores have increased their monthly sales volume by double-digits after he took operational control, he noted.

Since taking control of the two Indianapolis stores, revenues there are also trending upward, he said, noting he's already evaluating other opportunities to expand his network in Indiana, where there are 20-plus Big O points of sale, and Kentucky, where there are 24.

Most of his stores are on track to hit or exceed $2 million in revenue this year, he said.

Towers said the grand-opening sales will include tire and oil change promotions. There'll also be a cookout and other activities at the Lawrence location.