Tire Discounters growing in Georgia, enters Virginia

CINCINNATI — Tire Discounters has added six retail stores in the past few weeks, both by acquisition and greenfield construction and including its first location in Virginia.

The latest openings expand Tire Discounters' store network to nearly 140 locations in seven states and lay a foundation for growth of up to 60 stores in 2022 — including up to 30 in Atlanta alone — through acquisitions and organic growth, the Cincinnati-based dealership said.

In Virginia, Tire Discounters acquired Tire Outfitters Inc., a single-outlet dealership in Winchester that's served that community — a city of about 27,000 residents in northern Virginia about 75 miles northwest of Washington D.C. — since 1984.

"Adding Tire Outfitters to our family is another natural fit for us," Anna Wood, Tire Discounters managing director, said. "When the opportunity came along, we couldn't pass it up and we look forward to this being the first of many growth opportunities in Virginia."

Ed Duncan, owner and operator of Tire Outfitters, added: "Protecting my company's proud legacy and ensuring my people, some of whom have been with Tire Outfitters for 20 or 30 years, was of utmost importance to me. Tire Discounters is the perfect match for us as we look to provide the infrastructure and support system for this business and its people to continue to grow and flourish into the future."

The other acquisitions are in Georgia, where Tire Discounters took over Bulldog Tire and Lightning Auto Glass in the Atlanta area. Financial terms of the acquisitions were not disclosed.

The Bulldog Tire acquisition includes three retail stores in the eastern Atlanta suburbs of Covington, Monroe and Snellville and a wholesale distribution center in Monroe.

Bulldog Tire stores are full-service operations with a focus on new tires, tire services and auto repair services.

"Bulldog Tire is a proud brand and business, having served our customers well for many years," according to Ronnie Ward, Bulldog Tire founder and owner, who called Tire Discounters a "fantastic partner" as the company looks to strengthen its value proposition with customers and employees.

"We look forward to a bright future of continuing to exceed our customers' expectations," he added.

The dealership was founded in 1973.

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At the same time, Tire Discounters added retail location Lawrenceville, Ga., an Atlanta suburb with about 28,500 residents, by renovating a former Tires Plus store there.

This opening and the Bulldog acquisition expands Tire Discounters network in Georgia to eight locations and build on Tire Discounters' purchase of Porterfield Tire Inc. in December 2020.

Taken together, these initiatives lay a more solid foundation for growth in the Atlanta area, where Tire Discounters is looking to add 30 retail locations in 2022.

The Porterfield Tire deal added a pair of retail stores, one commercial outlet and a warehouse in the Atlanta area. That distribution center has helped Tire Discounters accelerate its expansion in southern states.

"Our excitement for the Atlanta area is huge," Tire Discounters CEO Jamie Ward said. "Porterfield (Tire) has been a fantastic addition to the Tire Discounters family, and we're excited to add Bulldog Tire, Lightning Auto Glass and additional family-run stores, which are the heart and soul of the tire business."

Bulldog Tire's warehouse will be come Tire Discounters fourth warehouse distribution center.

Lightning Auto Glass in Chamblee, Ga., is considered a leader in the auto glass repair and installation business in its market, Tire Discounters said, and will double the Cincinnati firm's activities in this business area.

Tire Discounters has a mobile glass and ADAS fleet in its northern markets and a glass store in its hometown of Cincinnati. In mid-November, it rolled out a fleet of mobile glass and ADAS servicing vehicles in Tennessee.

Dan Keiser, Lightning Auto Glass owner and operator, said his company is proud to be a part of another strong family-owned and -operated business, with the infrastructure and support systems to help Lightning take its business to the next level.

"The Atlanta area is constantly growing and evolving," Charles Curlee, vice president of retail sales for Tire Discounters, said. "With that comes the growth and evolution of the surrounding areas, like Lawrenceville.

"We see a market that is primed for the outstanding levels of customer service that only a family-owned business can provide."

"As a family-owned and operated business," Mr. Ward said, "we treat our customers like family," he said. "We give our customers the value and quality service they deserve. It's that simple.

"We're not striving to be the biggest," he added. "Our goal continues to be the best. …

"We are actively looking for family-owned businesses like Bulldog Tire, Lightning Auto Glass and Tire Outfitters that want to protect their legacy but know that operating an automotive business in today's world has become more and more challenging," Mr. Ward said.